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Texas Children’s Hospital utilizes a dual-armed YuMi robot to facilitate the transfer of fruit flies to new vials containing fresh food. | Source: ABB Robotics
The fruit fly, scientifically known as Drosophila melanogaster, may be perceived as a common nuisance, yet these insects play a pivotal role in the research of various neurological diseases at Texas Children’s Hospital.
Fruit flies are invaluable in this scientific endeavor because they share approximately 75% of the genetic makeup linked to human diseases. They reproduce rapidly, and their DNA can be easily modified, as noted by UC Davis. However, managing these flies in laboratory settings can be quite challenging.
To address this, ABB Robotics partnered with the Jan and Dan Duncan Neurological Research Institute (Duncan NRI) at Texas Children’s Hospital to develop an innovative automated fruit fly transfer workstation. This new system incorporates ABB’s dual-arm YuMi collaborative robot, which significantly advances the study of conditions such as Alzheimer’s, Huntington’s disease, and Parkinson’s disease.
Unlike traditional methods, the new automated setup eliminates the need for anesthetizing the flies—often a cumbersome process that can distort their behavior and skew research results. “While lab automation has progressed tremendously, certain critical tasks remain manual, potentially compromising outcomes,” explained Jose-Manuel Collados, manager of ABB’s Service Robotics Product Line. “Our YuMi cobot’s arms can work both independently and in unison, allowing us to effectively automate the intricate task of transferring live flies between vials.”
Challenges in Transferring Fruit Flies
In the daily routines at Texas Children’s Hospital, researchers need to feed fruit flies by moving them into vials containing fresh food every 30 days. A typical laboratory may manage around 20,000 vials, translating to a significant time investment—about 20% of researchers’ workdays dedicated to “flipping flies.” This process involves placing a vial with the fly stock over a fresh food vial and then tapping it to release the flies.
Until now, automation attempts required the flies to be outside their vials during the process, necessitating sedation. The introduction of ABB’s new system promises not only to streamline the transfer procedure but also to enhance result accuracy, as confirmed by ABB Robotics.
ABB engineers collaborated closely with Duncan NRI researchers to design a dedicated fly transfer workstation. This facility features the YuMi cobot, a surface stocked with vials, a barcode and labeling unit, and a waste chute.
The YuMi robot mimics human movements to tap and transfer flies between vials, thus enabling scientists to concentrate on essential tasks, such as identifying new disease pathways and assessing drug effectiveness for neurological conditions.
Meticulous Tracking with YuMi at Texas Children’s Hospital
The YuMi is designed to handle the entire fly transfer process efficiently, performing a series of ten programmed steps rapidly. The robot begins by picking up a vial containing live flies, opening a protective cellulose acetate plug, positioning the vial over a fresh food vial, and tapping it to transfer the flies.
Following the transfer, the YuMi seals, labels, and scans the vial before neatly stacking it in cardboard racks. It also discards any old food vials, effectively preventing cross-contamination.
A notable feature of this system is its ability to read barcodes and print corresponding labels. These labels provide crucial strain and genotype details, allowing researchers to maintain meticulous strain tracking during transfers.
The advanced sensing capabilities of the YuMi ensure precise vial placement in standard cardboard racks, allowing researchers to utilize existing infrastructure and significantly lowering operational costs for Texas Children’s Hospital.
ABB has built this system with a strong emphasis on safety, allowing for human-robot collaboration in the workspace. The motion-sensitive arms can immediately halt movement if they detect nearby individuals or objects, creating a safe environment for all users in the lab.
ABB’s YuMi robot demonstrating the transfer process of fruit flies from one vial to another, ensuring they receive fresh food. | Source: ABB Robotics
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