From workflow to hardware
What happens when the robot arrives?
The endpoint action determines the hardware. Use the examples below to connect the transfer sequence with the carrier, docking interface and handling mechanism.
Carry
Move a loaded carrier between work areas. Define who loads and unloads it.
Dock & hand over
Align with a receiving station and complete the agreed carrier transfer.
Pick & place
Reach, grip and release an item using the selected arm and tooling.
The sequences below are illustrative application examples. The actual task, equipment and acceptance criteria are defined for each project.
Plate and rack transfer
Pharmaceutical & biotechnology
For a workflow that moves covered plates between preparation and analysis, start with the change from carrying the load to placing it at the instrument. A rack handoff and an individual plate pickup lead to different tooling.
- 01Preparation station
- 02Carrier transport
- 03Instrument handoff
- 04Return buffer
Where the handling method changes
A transport platform is a candidate when the endpoints load and unload the carrier. If the task includes taking a plate from the carrier and placing it into an opening, review an arm, gripper and the complete approach and withdrawal path.
Explore mobile manipulator platformsSelection points
- Plate, lid and loaded carrier geometry
- Gripping surfaces and finger release space
- Instrument datum and handoff tolerance
Transfers across instrument stations
Analytical & testing laboratories
For a rack that visits more than one instrument, check the receiving interface at each stop. The same rack may need a different approach, support height or adapter at the next station.
- 01Rack buffer
- 02First station
- 03Next station
- 04Return buffer
One carrier, several interfaces
Compare a common carrier with station-specific adapters before fixing the layout. Review access and seating at every receiving position, then agree how each station reports that it can accept the load. Your scheduler selects the destination and sequence.
Review instrument access Record the station interfaceSelection points
- Working height and opening at each station
- Shared carrier or separate insert variants
- Station-ready and occupied signals
Defined container transport
Chemical & advanced materials laboratories
Consider a project that moves approved, closed containers between two work areas. The hardware review starts with the full loaded container and how it is supported during travel and handoff.
- 01Loaded carrier
- 02Restrained transport
- 03Receiving fixture
- 04Unload
Design around the loaded container
Use container geometry, load distribution and permitted contact surfaces to choose supports and restraints. Review the proposed materials and assembly against the project’s specified exposure, cleaning and containment requirements before selecting a configuration.
Review carrier and retention designSelection points
- Loaded mass, centre of gravity and overhang
- Container retention and unloading access
- Material and containment requirements
Identified rack handoff
Clinical laboratories
Where a transfer includes reading a rack identifier, the label and reader become part of the mechanical layout. The rack needs a repeatable position and a clear viewing path at the agreed reading point.
- 01Rack pickup
- 02Identifier read
- 03Carrier transport
- 04Receiving buffer
Make the identifier readable at handoff
Review rack location, label orientation and reader mounting together. If the reader is in the hardware scope, define how a valid read and a no-read are reported. Your laboratory software maintains the relationship between the rack, its contents and the requested work.
Explore sample transport hardwareSelection points
- Label position and permitted rack orientation
- Reader view and mounting space
- Physical receipt and read-result interface
Specimen tray and fixture transfer
Materials science & quality laboratories
For specimens moving between preparation and measurement stations, a tray can provide a consistent interface while inserts locate the individual parts. The useful comparison is which features stay common and which change with the specimen.
- 01Preparation tray
- 02Carrier transport
- 03Measurement fixture
- 04Tray return
Separate the common tray from the variable insert
Compare support and locating features across the permitted specimen range. An interchangeable insert may preserve the platform interface, provided the complete load still meets the agreed mass, clearance and retention conditions.
Explore mobile transport platformsSelection points
- Specimen envelope and contact restrictions
- Tray datum and insert attachment
- Load distribution and required orientation
Transfer within a defined operating area
Cleanroom & controlled environments
For a transfer inside a controlled area, review the complete assembly against the specified materials, cleaning conditions and permitted route. The review includes the carrier, exposed joints and the parts that need service access.
- 01Staging point
- 02Approved route
- 03Station docking
- 04Carrier handoff
Review the complete assembly
Compare exposed materials, joints and removable carrier parts against the facility requirements. Agree where charging and maintenance take place. A cleanroom suitability claim needs evidence for the actual assembly and operating conditions.
Review testing and verificationSelection points
- Materials, surfaces and cleaning conditions
- Operating zone and service locations
- Required qualification evidence
Working together
A clear hardware scope for each transfer task
We turn the agreed handoff into a mechanical layout, device connections and a platform interface your software team can use.
LabCarry hardware
Robot body, platforms, carriers, grippers and fixtures; integration of selected bases and arms; wiring, hardware/firmware connections, calibration and agreed hardware tests.
Your application team
Workflow sequence, instrument coordination, sample rules and scheduling software. We agree the physical handoff, signals and acceptance conditions at the interface.
Material compatibility, containment, clinical use and environmental qualification depend on the actual project. Confirm the relevant requirements and evidence with the responsible application specialists.
Discuss your transfer task