Abstract: Methods of scheduling maintenance on a plurality of automated testing apparatus and possibly also on ancillary test processing apparatus are provided. The methods include inputting identification data on the plurality of automated testing apparatus to be maintained, inputting maintenance requirement data for the maintenance of each of the apparatus, inputting demand constraint data, operating on the identification data, maintenance requirement data, and demand constraint data using an optimization program, such as mixed integer linear programming (MILP), subject to demand constraints and at least one objective, and outputting an optimized maintenance schedule for a planning period. Systems and apparatus configured to carry out the methods are also provided, as are other aspects.

Abstract: Disclosed herein is a method of enabling supervision of a laboratory environment utilizing diagnostic equipment. The method includes utilization of a device for capturing an optical image of at least a portion of the laboratory environment. The method further requires selectively capturing the optical image using the image capture device and selectively transmitting the captured image over a communications medium. The method further requires receiving the transmitted optical image by an image receiver in communication with the image transmission device via the communications medium. The method then requires selectively generating, by an image processor in communication with the image receiver, a display of at least a portion of the captured optical image on an image display device and receiving status information from the diagnostic equipment at a laboratory manager that is in communication with multitude of diagnostic equipment.

Abstract: Methods of scheduling maintenance on a plurality of automated testing apparatus and possibly also on ancillary test processing apparatus. The methods include inputting identification data on the plurality of automated testing apparatus to be maintained, inputting maintenance requirement data for the maintenance of each of the apparatus, inputting demand constraint data, operating on the identification data, maintenance requirement data, and demand constraint data using an optimization program, such as mixed integer linear programming (MILP), subject to demand constraints and at least one objective, and outputting an optimized maintenance schedule for a planning period. Systems and apparatus configured to carry out the methods are provided, as are other aspects.

Abstract: A location based dynamic information provision system integrates operator positional awareness within a laboratory environment with a laboratory environment asset site map. At least one operator proximity metric, defining a distance threshold for establishing whether an operator within the laboratory is proximate to a respective asset, is defined for each asset. Operator detection and position is provided by an indoor positioning system. A signaling device associated with each operator is in communication with a laboratory process management platform for receiving operator information contingent upon the respective operator being within the proximity metric for a respective laboratory asset and the asset having communicated status of a given urgency to the process management platform. The signaling device may enable the operator to communicate with the process management platform and may provide a tactile or other attention attracting signal to the operator.

Abstract: A location based dynamic information provision system integrates operator positional awareness within a laboratory environment with a laboratory environment asset site map. At least one operator proximity metric, defining a distance threshold for establishing whether an operator within the laboratory is proximate to a respective asset, is defined for each asset. Operator detection and position is provided by an indoor positioning system. A signaling device associated with each operator is in communication with a laboratory process management platform for receiving operator information contingent upon the respective operator being within the proximity metric for a respective laboratory asset and the asset having communicated status of a given urgency to the process management platform. The signaling device may enable the operator to communicate with the process management platform and may provide a tactile or other attention attracting signal to the operator.

Abstract: Disclosed herein is a method of enabling supervision of a laboratory environment utilizing diagnostic equipment. The method includes utilization of a device for capturing an optical image of at least a portion of the laboratory environment. The method further requires selectively capturing the optical image using the image capture device and selectively transmitting the captured image over a communications medium. The method further requires receiving the transmitted optical image by an image receiver in communication with the image transmission device via the communications medium. The method then requires selectively generating, by an image processor in communication with the image receiver, a display of at least a portion of the captured optical image on an image display device and receiving status information from the diagnostic equipment at a laboratory manager that is in communication with multitude of diagnostic equipment.

Abstract: A multi-view stereo approach generates an inventory of objects located on an object holder. An object may be a sample tube and an object holder may be a tube rack as used in lab automation for healthcare diagnostics. A processor performs 3D tracking of the object holder and the geometric analysis of multiple images generated by a calibrated camera. A homography mapping between images is utilized to warp a second image to a viewpoint of a first image. Plane induced parallax causes a normalized cross-correlation score between the first image and the warped second image of a location on the holder that has an object that is significantly different from a normalized cross-correlation score of a location that has not an object and enables the processor to infer tube inventory and absence or presence of a tube at a location in a rack.

Abstract: Disclosed are methods adapted to aid in a calibration of a robotic end effector. The method includes providing a robotic component having an end effector and a light beam sensor provided in a fixed orientation to the end effector fingers, rotating a light beam of the light beam sensor relative to a geometrical calibration feature of a teach tool mounted in an approximately known orientation to an article, and determining a precise location (e.g., center) of the geometrical calibration feature based upon engagement of the light beam with edges of the geometrical calibration feature. In another aspect, a rotational orientation of the fingers of the end effector are calibrated using the teach tool. A novel teach tool and a robot calibration system including the teach tool are disclosed, as are other aspects.

Abstract: A multi-view stereo approach generates an inventory of objects located on an object holder. An object may be a sample tube and an object holder may be a tube rack as used in lab automation for healthcare diagnostics. A processor performs 3D tracking of the object holder and the geo-metric analysis of multiple images generated by a calibrated camera. A homography mapping between images is utilized to warp a second image to a viewpoint of a first image. Plane induced parallax causes a normalized cross-correlation score between the first image and the warped second image of a location on the holder that has an object that is significantly different from a normalized cross-correlation score of a location that has not an object and enables the processor to infer tube inventory and absence or presence of a tube at a location in a rack.

Abstract: Disclosed are methods adapted to aid in a calibration of a robotic end effector. The method includes providing a robotic component having an end effector and a light beam sensor provided in a fixed orientation to the end effector fingers, rotating a light beam of the light beam sensor relative to a geometrical calibration feature of a teach tool mounted in an approximately known orientation to an article, and determining a precise location (e.g., center) of the geometrical calibration feature based upon engagement of the light beam with edges of the geometrical calibration feature. In another aspect, a rotational orientation of the fingers of the end effector are calibrated using the teach tool. A novel teach tool and a robot calibration system including the teach tool are disclosed, as are other aspects.