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A Universal Micromanipulation Robot for Crystallography

Award Information

Agency:
Department of Health and Human Services 		Branch:
N/A 		Award ID:
76257 		Program Year/Program:
2005 / STTR
Agency Tracking Number:
GM073278 		Solicitation Year:
N/A 		Solicitation Topic Code:
N/A 		Solicitation Number:
N/A
Small Business Information
Square One Systems Design, Inc.
3500 South Park Drive Jackson, WY 83001-9514
View profile »
Woman-Owned: No
Minority-Owned: No
HUBZone-Owned: No
 
Phase 1
Fiscal Year: 2005
Title: A Universal Micromanipulation Robot for Crystallography
Agency: HHS
Contract: 1R41GM073278-01
Award Amount: $198,227.00
 

Abstract:

DESCRIPTION (provided by applicant): The accelerating pace of research in the fields of rational drug discovery and structural genomics has created an acute need for efficient, high throughput crystallography automation. While a variety of automated equipment has been developed for crystallization setup, throughput-limiting bottlenecks still exist in the area of crystal harvesting. Square One Systems Design proposes a modular, multi-function robotic system capable of addressing these remaining process bottlenecks. This Universal Micromanipulation Robot (UMR) is predicated on an innovative, articulating arm design that has the precision and dexterity to perform complex tasks that until now have been impractical to automate. An end-effectors exchange capability will grant a single robot the ability to harvest crystals, apply cryobuffers and ligands, perform seeding operations and transfer cryo-pins into storage cassettes submerged in liquid nitrogen. During Phase I, Square One plans to conduct an applied research program in cooperation with Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory's (LLNL) Macromolecular Crystallography and Structural Genomics Group in order to establish the feasibility of the Universal Micromanipulation Robot. Manipulators will be evaluated. A controls architecture will be created for the manipulator of choice that will allow the UMR to operate both autonomously and as an extension of a human operator. Task-specific end-effectors will be designed, built and tested. Existing machine vision tools will be refined. Phase I will culminate in the creation of a functional UMR prototype that will be tested at LLNL. If successful, this Phase I effort will serve as the basis for the development of a commercial UMR with expanded functional capabilities during Phase II.

Principal Investigator:

Robert J. Viola
3077390946
VIOLA@SQR-1.COM

Business Contact:

Robert Viola
3077390946
VIOLA@SQR-1.COM
Small Business Information at Submission:

Square One Systems Design
Square One Systems Design Box 2772, 615 E Hansen St Jackson, WY 83001

EIN/Tax ID: 134291472
DUNS: N/A
Number of Employees: N/A
Woman-Owned: No
Minority-Owned: No
HUBZone-Owned: No
Research Institution Information:
LAWRENCE LIVERMORE NATIONAL LABORATORY
UNIVERSITY OF CALIF-LAWRNC LVRMR NAT LAB
7000 EAST AVE
LIVERMORE, CA 94550
RI Type: Federally funded R&D center (FFRDC)