Abstract: Aspects of the present invention relate to an automated cell culture instrument and to methods for operating such an instrument. In one aspect, the cell culture instrument includes a computing unit and a plurality of electrically controllable resources (e.g., sensors, actuators, etc.). The computing unit receives a protocol, schedules the resources so as to execute the protocol, and operates the resources as scheduled or in response to so as to provide an improved environment for cell culture growth. The computing unit may simulate protocol execution in connection with the scheduling or execution of the protocol.

Abstract: A data collection hub and method wherein a controller is configured to receive data from a plurality of sensors sensing conditions related to the performance of operations on cells by at least one instrument. A database stores the data from the plurality of sensors and the controller is configured to compare data from the plurality of sensors for a past operation with the data for a more recent operation.

Abstract: A method and system for performing operations on cells on an instrument comprises providing a peer to peer network of instruments for performing operations on cells, maintaining a distributed database in at least a plurality of the instruments in the peer to peer network, storing at least one protocol in the database for use by at least one instrument in the peer to peer network for performing operations on cells and storing results from the performance of the operations on cells by the at least one instrument in the distributed database. The results stored in the distributed database is then usable to later authenticate the results from the at least one instrument.

Abstract: Aspects of the present invention relate to an automated cell culture instrument and to methods for operating such an instrument. In one aspect, the cell culture instrument includes a computing unit and a plurality of electrically controllable resources (e.g., sensors, actuators, etc.). The computing unit receives a protocol, schedules the resources so as to execute the protocol, and operates the resources as scheduled or in response to so as to provide an improved environment for cell culture growth. The computing unit may simulate protocol execution in connection with the scheduling or execution of the protocol.

Abstract: Aspects of the present invention relate to a networked cell culture incubator and to methods for operating such an incubator. In one aspect, the cell culture incubator includes a network interface for communicating with a source of parameter data utilized successfully by other incubators. The incubator receives appropriate parameter data and conducts the incubation process as prescribed by the parameter data so as to provide an improved environment for cell culture growth. The incubator may share its own parameter data with the data source for use by other incubators. The incubator and data source may share other forms of data as well.

Abstract: In the operation of work machines it has been a problem to control the work machine's velocity aspects such as velocity, acceleration, deceleration and jerk because of the plurality of operator interfaces required for such control. The present invention provides an operator interface system for a work machine in which a first pedal is displaceable from a neutral position, and a sensor is operatively coupled with the first pedal and is operable to output a displacement signal corresponding to a location of the first pedal. An electronic controller receives the displacement signal and provides a predetermined control to a velocity aspect of the work machine in response to the displacement signal.

Abstract: In one embodiment of the present invention, a planning apparatus and method for earthmoving operations with a front-end loader, such as loading a bucket with material and unloading the material in a receptacle, is disclosed including multi-level processing for planning the operation. One of the processing levels is a coarse-level planner that uses geometry of the site and heuristics specified by expert operators to find an optimal area from which to remove material. The next level involves searching the area for an exact starting location. This is accomplished by choosing among candidate excavations for the site with the optimum performance criteria including maximum amount of material protruding from the pile, minimum side loading of the bucket, and minimum distance from the loading receptacle.

Abstract: In one embodiment of the present invention, a planning system and method for earthmoving operations such as digging a foundation or leveling a mound of soil is disclosed including three different levels of processing for planning the excavation. One of the processing levels is a coarse-level planner that uses geometry of the site and the goal configuration of the terrain to divide the excavation area into a grid-like pattern of smaller excavation regions and to determine the boundaries and sequence of excavation for each region. The next level is a refined planner wherein each excavation region is, in order of the excavation sequence provided by the coarse planner, searched for the optimum excavation that can be executed. This is accomplished by choosing candidate excavations that meet geometric constraints of the machine and that are approximately within the boundaries of the region being excavated.

Abstract: A method is disclosed for monitoring a work implement of a digging machine positioned at an excavation site during an excavating work cycle, the work implement including a bucket for capturing material, the method comprising the steps of using a representation of the shape of the excavation site and estimating the volume of material captured by the bucket based on the actual trajectory of the bucket and the shape of the excavation site to determine when the bucket has reached a desired capacity.