A Vision-Based Micro-Manipulation System

Abstract

This research article outlines the design and methodology employed in the development of a vision-based micro-manipulation system, emphasizing its constituent components. While the system is initially tailored for applications involving living cells, its adaptability to other objects is highlighted. The integral components include an image enhancement module for data preparation, an object detector trained on the pre-processed data, and a precision micro-manipulator for actuating towards detected objects. Each component undergoes rigorous precision testing, revealing that the proposed image enhancement, when combined with the object detector, outperforms conventional methods. Additionally, the micro-manipulator shows excellent results for working with living cells the size of yeast. In the end, the components are also tested in a combined system as a proof-of-concept.