Expert system software has reached a degree of sophistication such that It can be used to make decisions based on analytical chemical rules. Combining this type of software with standard laboratory automation, such as robots, opens up a new field of discovery. These new systems are able to make some decisions without human Intervention and possibly make new analytical discoveries. A microcomputer-based expert system Is described that controls a standard, laboratory robotic system. The expert system Is capable of performing direct complexometric titrations on metal cations In solution. Users of the expert/robotlc system can provide Instruction by forcing the system to analyze samples under certain conditions. The system can also use heuristic rules, based on conditional stability constants, to make decisions. By storing all titration results, the system Is capable of learning from past experience.
A generalized computer program, ARTS (Analytical Robot Telecommunications Software), has been developed to give the research scientist more flexible control of laboratory robots and instruments. As a stand-alone program, ARTS is a complete laboratory control language. ARTS can also be an extension of other software in either a master or slave mode. As master, ARTS can call on other software to perform certain tasks. In a slave mode, ARTS can act as a sensory extension of the calling software. ARTS is a flexible laboratory control language capable of adapting to changing laboratory requirements.
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