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Related Experiment Video

Updated: Sep 21, 2025

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Open-source personal pipetting robots with live-cell incubation and microscopy compatibility.

Philip Dettinger1,2, Tobias Kull3, Geethika Arekatla3

  • 1Department of Biosystems Science and Engineering, ETH Zurich, Basel, Switzerland. philip.dettinger@unibas.ch.

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|May 31, 2022
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Summary

We developed PHIL, an affordable, open-source personal liquid handling robot, to automate experiments for researchers. This easy-to-use system requires no programming skills, making advanced automation accessible to more labs.

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Area of Science:

  • Life Sciences
  • Robotics
  • Biotechnology

Background:

  • Liquid handling robots offer automation potential in life sciences but face adoption barriers in academic settings due to cost, space, and maintenance limitations.
  • Current robotic systems often require specialized programming and are ill-suited for the dynamic, small-scale projects common in academic research.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To introduce the Pipetting Helper Imaging Lid (PHIL), an inexpensive, compact, and open-source personal liquid handling robot.
  • To enable inexperienced users to automate laboratory procedures without extensive programming knowledge.

Main Methods:

  • Designed PHIL for self-production using affordable commercial and 3D-printable components.
  • Developed custom control software for user-friendly operation.
  • Integrated 3D-printed peristaltic pumps for automated liquid aspiration and dispensing.

Main Results:

  • PHIL successfully automates pipetting tasks, including aspiration, for applications such as tissue immunostaining and live stem cell stimulation during time-lapse microscopy.
  • The robot's low cost and ease of use make personal liquid handling automation accessible to most laboratories.
  • Users without prior programming experience can readily automate a wide array of experiments.

Conclusions:

  • PHIL addresses the limitations of current liquid handling robots in academic environments by providing an affordable, user-friendly, and adaptable solution.
  • The open-source nature and simple design of PHIL promote wider adoption of automation in life science research.
  • PHIL empowers researchers to automate diverse experimental protocols, enhancing efficiency and accessibility in scientific endeavors.