This week’s selection is the Flowing Liquid Utilizing Interactive Device by researchers at Hokkaido University.
There’s been considerable interest in developing new materials by institutions worldwide. While the development of a new and useful material can be game-changing for industry, it can take huge efforts to sort through the endless possibilities to discover the optimal combination of ingredients.
Traditionally, this has been done manually, but with the advent of AI and other generative systems, the demand for automation of this process has never been higher.
To reduce some of the work, researchers have developed an open-source robot that can automate material synthesis. They call it “FLUID”, for “Flowing Liquid Utilizing Interactive Device”. The system includes a large number of 3D printable parts that can be produced on inexpensive equipment.
The researchers explain in their paper’s abstract:
“Here, the development of FLUID, an open-source, 3D-printed robotic platform for material synthesis, is presented. FLUID provides a comprehensive blueprint for both hardware and software, enabling accessible and customizable automation for a broad range of researchers.”
As they mention, this is not so much a completed system, but rather a customizable solution that can be adapted for a variety of material synthesis operations.
What’s in the system? They explain:
“FLUID’s hardware comprises four independent modules, each equipped with a syringe, two valves, a servo motor for valve control, and a stepper motor to precisely control the syringe plunger. Each module also has an end-stop sensor to detect the syringe’s maximum fill position. These modules are connected to microcontroller boards that receive commands from a computer via USB. The system also includes software that lets users control the robot’s functions, such as valve adjustments and syringe movements, and provides real-time status updates and sensor data.”
Future versions of the system will incorporate additional sensors, including pH, temperature, and more.
Not only will FLUID speed up the automation, but it will also lower the cost of material discovery by removing a considerable amount of labour. Ultimately, this will result in new materials becoming available for use by industry and perhaps even additive manufacturing.
Via EurekaAlert and ACS
