Problem Statement
Filling NMR tubes manually is a limiting step for pharmaceutical companies working with large-scale NMR due to its inconsistency, requirement for skilled labor, fragile equipment, and necessary sterility. Automated processes exist but are not cost or space effective for labs in an industry or research setting as they can cost over $100,000 and have a large footprint. Solving this issue will streamline the NMR process and allow for increased accuracy, improved sterility, and reduced costs. To address this challenge, our team plans to design a robot to fill NMR tubes that is cheaper and smaller than current automated processes on the market while also maintaining consistency of tube filling. A more cost and space effective solution will make these robots more accessible and improve the efficacy of drug discovery.
Goals
Modify an Opentrons OT-2 robot to fill NMR tubes that is cheaper and smaller compared to current automated processes on the market while also maintaining consistency of tube filling.
Create a system that can handle BSL-2 and below biosafety levels.
Design and modify existing Opentrons OT-2 pipette for height compatibility.
Objectives
Create an NMR tube filling robot that fits the size constraints
Make an NMR tube filling robot that is affordable
Create an NMR tube filling robot that is able to perform independently