Visualization system development for Life Science Automation

To realize visualization for Process Control Systems (PCS) in Life Science Automation (LSA), the authors developed a Control and Simulation System. As an intermediary, the system receives scheduling data of experiment workflow from the PCS via a TCP/IP socket. Based on these data, it drives the simulation software 3DCreate to realize the automated experiment simulation by calling its COM API and Python API. After simulation, the system sends simulation results back to the PCS via TCP/IP socket, and drives the PCS to begin its real automated experiment task when the scheduling processes are checked to be correct by the simulation result. The system integrates hardware, PCS and simulation software, and realizes a real-time virtual simulation for experiment workflow in LSA laboratories. It saves experiment cost and improves the efficiency in laboratory automation display.