Robot allows chemists to conduct experiments remotely

Published 28 August 2008

Many chemical lab experiments involve explosions, noxious fumes, burns, stains, and all manner of unpleasantness; new robot allows chemists to conduct experiments remotely

Here is an innovation which will make progress in chemistry less unpleasant. Explosions, noxious fumes, burns, stains, and all manner of unpleasantness — there are times when chemists simply do not want to get too close to the chemicals that they are mixing. Offering a potential solution is ChemBot, the $5,000 first-place winner in the Grant Imahara VEXplorer Robot Challenge, sponsored by Revell, Innovation First, Robot magazine, and Dassault Systèmes SolidWorks.

Gustavo Goretkin, contest winner, said in his YouTube demonstration: “Sometimes, no matter how many precautions you take before conducting an experiment, something might go wrong.” Unless, of course, experiments can be conducted remotely using a robot. This is exactly what Chembot allows chemists to do through controlling the actions of a robotic arm carried on a mobile base and observing the results through a camera mounted on its body.

Out of dozens of applications, the contest itself gave 25 semi-finalist robot enthusiasts a chance to compete for a $5,000 scholarship grand prize and a $2,000 second-place scholarship. Ten more contestants were given a chance to win $200 gift certificates redeemable at Vex Robotics.

Contestants used the VEXplorer robotics kit, which includes the SolidWorks Student Design Kit, and any additional robotics parts (up to a limit of $100) from Vex Robotics to create a unique and original application. Entrants then had to post a video demonstration on YouTube. Several competitors included SolidWorks designs and animations in their videos.