1. Lab Automation Software
SoftLinx V
Flow-Chart Driven
Lab Automation Software
Change date and company as appropriate.
This is an overview presentation about Hudson Control Group. It covers the company and the product and services.
Alan H. Katz 10/13/10
November 11, 2018
©2010 Hudson Robotics, Inc.

2. SoftLinx V Introduction
Set-Up and Initialize Instruments
- Add Instruments
- Define communications
- Setup machine-specific parameters
Design Protocol(s)
- Drag Instrument methods into the workflow
- Setup method-specific parameters
- Create/Modify variables to add complexity to workflows
- Create/Configure control structures (loops, conditionals)
- Create VBA code to further customize workflows
Run Protocol(s)
- Keep Track of every Microplate in the system
- Maintain Database of all protocols and method steps
- Run in simulate mode to test off-line
- Prevent standstills or collisions
November 11, 2018
©2010 Hudson Robotics, Inc.

3. 1. Setup & Initialize Instruments – Add Instruments
Hundreds of available instrument interfaces - or make your own (VBA)
November 11, 2018
©2010 Hudson Robotics, Inc.

4. 1. Setup & Initialize Instruments – Define Communications
November 11, 2018
©2010 Hudson Robotics, Inc.

5. 1. Setup Instruments – Machine-Specific Parameters (PlateCrane)
November 11, 2018
©2010 Hudson Robotics, Inc.

6. 1. Setup Instruments – Machine-Specific Parameters (Shaker Nest)
November 11, 2018
©2010 Hudson Robotics, Inc.

7. 2. Design Protocols - Drag and Drop Method Steps into WorkFlow
Eg. Add Micro10x Dispense Step
November 11, 2018
©2010 Hudson Robotics, Inc.

8. 2. Design Protocols – Setup Method-Specific Parameters
November 11, 2018
©2010 Hudson Robotics, Inc.

9. 2. Design Protocols – Create Variables for More Control
Supports: Numbers, Strings and Booleans
November 11, 2018
©2010 Hudson Robotics, Inc.

10. 2. Design Protocols – Modify Variables for More Control
Variables can come from various places:
Loop counters
Data Files
Instrument Interface Variables
November 11, 2018
©2010 Hudson Robotics, Inc.

11. 2. Design Protocols – Create and Configure Loops
Loops can be given descriptive names
Loops can be run:
Forever
A Predetermined # of times
A Variable # of times
November 11, 2018
©2010 Hudson Robotics, Inc.

12. 2. Design Protocols – Create Conditional Statements
Conditionals can be given descriptive names
November 11, 2018
©2010 Hudson Robotics, Inc.

13. 2. Design Protocols – Parallel Processes
Processes can be given descriptive names
Parallel Processes can be run:
At the same time
In a Predetermined order
In order defined by a variable
November 11, 2018
©2010 Hudson Robotics, Inc.

14. 2. Design Protocols – Add Your Own VBA Scripts
Send
& Return
parameters to and from VBA Interface
November 11, 2018
©2010 Hudson Robotics, Inc.

15. 2. Design Protocols – eg ChemoRobotics VBA Script
Predicted Actives
Molecular Modeling
Cherry-Pick
Update Models
Screen Hits
Confirmed Actives
November 11, 2018
©2010 Hudson Robotics, Inc.

16. 2. Design Protocols – ChemoRobotics User Interface (VBA)
Panel to control the iterative process
Calculates and makes all docking grids available
Biological data retrieved from reader by SoftLinx
List of compound
source locations for each hit
Sets up and runs Glide. Then Generates list of all unique hits with desired score
Sets up and runs Shape Search queries for each Docking hit
Running total of unique hits to be screened
Performs second round of Shape Search queries based on hits from first round
November 11, 2018
©2010 Hudson Robotics, Inc.

17. ChemoRobotics Architecture - SoftLinx & VBA
User Interface
Cherry-Picking &
Screening
Molecular Modeling
via Knime
November 11, 2018
©2010 Hudson Robotics, Inc.

18. 2. Design Protocols – Other Features
One-Click Deactivate a Step
Method Skipped
Active Method
November 11, 2018
©2010 Hudson Robotics, Inc.

19. 2. Design Protocols – Other Features
Send an Message
Provide updates of protocol status
Alert user of operation issues
Archive protocol information at various intervals
November 11, 2018
©2010 Hudson Robotics, Inc.

20. 2. Design Protocols – Other Features
Other Types of Method Steps
Insert a delay
Run and external program or batch file
Stop the protocol
November 11, 2018
©2010 Hudson Robotics, Inc.

21. 2. Design Protocols – Other Features
Complete Regions can be De-Activated with One Click
Group Methods into Regions
Regions can have descriptive names
November 11, 2018
©2010 Hudson Robotics, Inc.

22. 3. Run Protocols - Keep Track of Every Plate & Protocol
Plates
Database stores plate location after each move
Reports can be generated to trace the history of any plate
Protocols & Methods
Potential to recover from a power outage
Structure of protocol recoverable - even if file was not saved!
Consistent with 21 CFR Part 11
November 11, 2018
©2010 Hudson Robotics, Inc.

23. 3. Run Protocols - Avoid Standstills and Collisions
Eg. 2 PlateCranes Remove a plate from the SOLO
SoftLinx Reserves the SOLO Nest position before a Method is run
Second PlateCrane must wait until the nest is released
Standstills
Eg. 2 PlateCranes are waiting for a plate to be removed from the SOLO
SoftLinx System Move Tool finds available nest to temporarily move plate
November 11, 2018
©2010 Hudson Robotics, Inc.