A Smart Centrifuge for Automated Sample Processing with Liquid Handling Robots

The recent development of automation hardware, such as liquid handling robots, offers accelerated and less labor-intensive workflows for material synthesis and assays. Furthermore, increased data redundancy is expected to contribute to higher reliability and reproducibility of communicated results. One current limitation for further deployment, especially in open hardware solutions, is the integration of centrifuges in automated workflows. Conventional centrifuges are unsuitable for modular applications and, crucially, do not offer the required positional control over the samples. This work presents a centrifuge with infrared sensor-derived positional control based on open-source design and cost-effective manufacturing, which is a prototype for integrated operation. Building with modular components, this centrifuge allows further customized adaptations with controlling from the serial port. This work presents the design, construction, validation, functionality testing, and quality control for operation. Besides, the smart centrifuge is compatible with various deck configurations due to an adaptive design, here demonstrated for the pipetting robot OT-2 (Opentrons). This accessible platform offers flexible use in automated synthesis and sample processing in various fields including life sciences, physical sciences, and engineering.