What is Momentum?

PIXL comes fully validated with Momentum workflow software, enabling you to initiate seamless walkaway colony picking by integrating with a Spinnaker robotic arm, supplied in partnership with Thermo Scientific™.

Momentum software

Momentum workflow
scheduling software

A powerful yet easy-to-use scheduling platform that lets you introduce autonomous data integration into your colony picking workflow.

Momentum allows you to build, schedule and execute custom workflows, combining intuitive drag-and-drop process creation with intelligent data-driven decision making.

By seamlessly integrating with PIXL’s comprehensive API, Momentum unlocks new levels of colony picking automation.

Why Momentum?

Reliable walkaway automation is capable of intelligent sample handling across 24-hour runs.

User-friendly interface with the versatility to unify multiple automation islands towards the development of a larger interconnected system.

Momentum software
picking up plate

Spinnaker microplate robot

A reliable and intuitive SBS microplate robot formulated for even the novice automation user to design, set-up and execute automated processes with ease.

Spinnaker includes self-correcting precision as well as powerful sample tracking and inventory management.

When combined with PIXL and Momentum, a Spinnaker robotic arm can seamlessly orchestrate 15,000 picks in a single 24-hour run.

Why Spinnaker?

Step-wise interface guides you through the procedure
for configuring and teaching automation solutions.

Integrated barcode reader and self-correcting precision promote
reliability by allowing you to track samples effortlessly.

Momentum_barcode scanning

“The robotic arm has allowed us to fully automate the colony picking process.
This frees up our staff to focus on other things.”

Wilson Liu, Automation Engineer
Aether Biomachines.

Momentum software

Drag and drop workflows

Simple construction of workflows using the easy-to-use flow chart style editor.

Momentum_software

Dynamic event scheduler

Automatically adjusts workflow timings to maximise efficiency in light of known constraints, allowing you to prioritise batches in real-time.

Run simulations

Optimise and test your workflow before you start. Then get progress notifications sent straight to your inbox for complete peace-of-mind during hands-off operation.

Application: High throughput CRISPR screens

Stanford Genome Technology Center uses an integrated PIXL robotic colony-picking system to construct arrays of thousands of genome-edited microbial clones. Each clone harbours a precise genetic variant engineered by a novel CRISPR genome editing technology known as MAGESTIC. Assessing phenotypes for each variant in different environmental conditions entails picking hundreds of thousands of colonies per project, with the aim of dissecting how complex traits are controlled by genetic variation.

While the lab sleeps, PIXL picks! Check out the Stanford Genome Technology Centre’s own footage of their PIXL-Spinnaker arm set up working overtime.

What about other integration providers?

PIXL has been successfully integrated around the world with leading integration providers such as Thermo Scientific, PAA, and MegaRobo.
Have a preferred integration provider? PIXL’s Open API means device drivers can be developed with your partner of choice.
PIXL Dark is an automation-ready solution, which will scale with your lab’s requirements for automation.

PIXL with Momentum is also suitable for:

  1. High throughput screening
  2. Mutant library construction
  3. Functional genomics and target identification
  4. Synthetic biology
  5. Proteomics and other ‘omics’ workflows
  6. CRISPR screens
  7. Cell culture
  8. MALDI-TOF sample prep
  9. Cloning and plasmid extraction
PIXL with Momentum arm

Lab Automation: This Checklist Could Save You $100,000s

Laboratory automation devices are a big investment, so choose wisely! This article will give you some insight into the journey of lab automation for the typical biotech laboratory.

Looking for automation with the flexibility
to grow with your lab’s ambitions?

Tested with multiple integration providers and supplied with a free well-documented
API: PIXL Dark is integration-ready from day one.