# US 10,768,190 B2 · Dynamically controlling an automated system > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 10,768,190 B2 - Document ID: US10768190B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 15/878,930 - Filed: 2018-01-24 - Published: 2018-08-02 - Granted: 2020-09-08 - Earliest claimed: 2017-01-27 - Assignees: Lonza Ltd. - Applicants: Lonza Limited - Inventors: Dale Webster; Evan Carpenter - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US10768190B2 ## CPC - G01N 35/0099: {comprising robots or similar manipulators (robots per se B25J)} - B25J 9/0084: {comprising a plurality of manipulators} - B25J 9/0096: {co-operating with a working support, e.g. work-table} - B25J 9/1669: {characterised by special application, e.g. multi-arm co-operation, assembly, grasping} - B25J 9/1682: {Dual arm manipulator; Coordination of several manipulators} - B25J 21/00: Chambers provided with manipulation devices (constructional features of the mounting of the manipulator in the wall B25J1/08 {; glove-boxes for nuclear applications G21F7/04}) - G01N 35/00722: {Communications; Identification} - G01N 35/0092: {Scheduling} - G01N 35/028: {having reaction cells in the form of microtitration plates} - G01N 2035/0091: {GUI [graphical user interfaces]} - Y10S 901/02: Arm motion controller - G01N: INVESTIGATING OR ANALYSING MATERIALS BY DETERMINING THEIR CHEMICAL OR PHYSICAL PROPERTIES (measuring or testing apparatus or processes other than immunoassay, involving enzymes or microorganisms C12M, C12Q) - B25J: MANIPULATORS; CHAMBERS PROVIDED WITH MANIPULATION DEVICES ({manipulators specially adapted for use in surgery A61B34/70; manipulators used in cleaning hollow articles B08B9/04}; manipulators associated with rolling mills B21B39/20; manipulators associated with forging machines B21J13/10; {manipulators associated with picking-up and placing mechanisms B23P19/007}; means for holding wheels or parts thereof B60B30/00; {vehicles with ground-engaging propulsion means, e.g. walking members B62D57/02, B62D57/032; devices for picking-up and depositing articles or materials between conveyors B65G47/90, B65G47/91; manipulators with gripping or holding means for transferring packages B65H67/065}; cranes B66C; {manipulators used in the protection or supervision of pipe-line installations F17D5/00; walking equipment adapted for nuclear steam-generators F22B37/006}; manipulators specially adapted for, or associated with, nuclear reactors G21C; {apparatus used for handling wafers during manufacture or treatment of semiconductor H10P72/50}) - Y10S: TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER USPC CROSS-REFERENCE ART COLLECTIONS [XRACs] AND DIGESTS ## Abstract Systems and methods for dynamic automation are provided. An automation module, for example, receives at least one map template that is selectable by a user. Based on the map template, the automation module dynamically generates a robot deck layout map and/or procedure and also generates a series of robotic commands for a robot. The robotic commands are then passed to the robot to carry out the automation. Accordingly, the automation is entirely dynamic, without the need for a user to pre-program or pre-assemble all of the robotic commands prior to the automation. The automation module is thus able to build, in real-time and/or on the fly, the robotic commands based only on the at least one map template that was selected by the user. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A system for dynamic automation, the system comprising: a robotic apparatus having a robot and a robot deck; at least one computing device for executing stored instructions to: receive a first map template of a first microplate used for a first assay, dynamically generate a plurality of robotic commands based on the received first map template, and send the generated plurality of robotic commands to the robot of the robotic apparatus for performing the dynamic automation, wherein the at least one computing device dynamically determines deck layout information for the robot deck based on the first map template, the robot deck having one or more stations for conducting the first assay associated with the first microplate of the first map template. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The system of claim 1, wherein the deck layout information includes one or more of: (i) what equipment is to be used for the dynamic automation at each of the one or more stations on the robot deck, (ii) where the equipment is to be positioned at each of the one or more stations on the robot deck, and (iii) calculations of one or more measurements associated with the equipment. ### Claim 3 (depends on 2) The system of claim 2, wherein the equipment includes one or more of: (i) at least one trough, (ii) at least one vial, (iii) at least one standards tube, (iv) at least one auxiliary tube, (v) at least one sample tube, and (vi) at least one microplate reader. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) The system of claim 1, wherein the at least one computing device processes results of the automation and stores the results in memory. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) The system of claim 1, wherein the at least one computing device receives a second map template of a second microplate different from the first microplate used for a second assay, and the plurality of the robotic commands being dynamically generated based on the received first and second map templates. ### Claim 6 (depends on 5) The system of claim 5, wherein the first assay and the second assay are conducted during a same automation run. ### Claim 7 (depends on 6) The system of claim 6, wherein the same automation run dynamically automates the first assay and the second assay. ### Claim 8 (depends on 5) The system of claim 5, wherein the first assay and the second assay are endotoxin assays. ### Claim 9 (depends on 5) The system of claim 5, wherein the first map template and the second map template are constructed by a user prior to the dynamic automation. ### Claim 10 (depends on 1) The system of claim 1, wherein the first map template has a grid with a plurality of cells, each of the cells corresponding to a location of a well on the first microplate. ### Claim 11 (depends on 1) The system of claim 1, wherein the at least one computing device receives confirmation that the robot deck has been set up in accordance with the dynamically determined deck layout information. ### Claim 12 (depends on 1) The system of claim 1, wherein the one or more stations includes one or more of: (i) a reagent rack station, (ii) a sample tube rack station, (iii) a microplate holder station, (iv) a microplate warmer station, and (v) a pipette tip holder station. ### Claim 13 (depends on 5) The system of claim 5, wherein the at least one computing device displays on an interface the first map template and the second map template for preview. ### Claim 14 A method for dynamic automation, the method comprising: receiving, using at least one computing device, a first map template of a first microplate used for a first assay; dynamically generating, using the at least one computing device, a plurality of robotic commands based on the received first map template; and sending, using the at least one computing device, the generated plurality of robotic commands to a robot for performing the dynamic automation; and determining, using the at least one computing device, deck layout information for a robot deck based on the first map template, the robot deck having one or more stations for conducting the first assay associated with the first microplate of the first map template. ### Claim 15 (depends on 14) The method of claim 14, wherein the deck layout information includes one or more of: (i) what equipment is to be used for the dynamic automation at each of the one or more stations on the robot deck, (ii) where the equipment is to be positioned at each of the one or more stations on the robot deck, and (iii) calculations of one or more measurements associated with the equipment. ### Claim 16 A system for dynamic automation, the system comprising: a robot; and at least one computing device for executing stored instructions to: receive at least one template, dynamically generate a plurality of robotic commands based on the received at least one template, and send the generated plurality of robotic commands to the robot for performing the dynamic automation, wherein the at least one computing device dynamically determines deck layout information for the robot deck based on the first map template, the robot deck having one or more stations for conducting the first assay associated with the first microplate of the first map template.