Foehn: An open-hardware asynchronous scheduling hub for high-throughput liquid-handling workflow

Area of Science:

• Automation and Robotics
• Laboratory Science
• Biotechnology

Background:

• High-throughput experimentation demands advanced laboratory automation.
• Liquid-handling robots are crucial but limited by sequential operations, hindering scalability.
• Existing systems lack efficient concurrent control for multiple experimental modules.

Purpose of the Study:

• To develop an asynchronous scheduling hub system, Foehn, for concurrent control of laboratory automation modules.
• To address the scalability bottleneck in liquid-handling robot workflows.
• To create a flexible, cost-effective, and open-source control architecture.

Main Methods:

• Developed Foehn using open-source Arduino hardware and a Python GUI.
• Implemented asynchronous, multi-threaded operation via standardized serial protocols.
• Integrated liquid-handling robots with peripheral modules (pumps, stirrers).

Main Results:

• Foehn demonstrated stable voltage output and 87.6% pulse-width modulation control efficiency.
• Successfully executed concurrent pumping and stirring with simultaneous pipetting and labware movement.
• Showcased excellent synchronization and operational stability across hardware layers.

Conclusions:

• The Foehn system offers a scalable foundation for high-throughput automation.
• Its modular, open-source design enhances flexibility and reduces costs.
• Foehn has strong potential to accelerate research in chemistry, biology, and materials science.