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Benches Platform: A Laboratory Information Management and Control System

Edward Carlisle IV, PhD

Graf Research Corporation

Blacksburg, Virginia, USA

Benches platform is a laboratory information management and control system, capable of both orchestrating and controlling complex interactions between disparate pieces of lab equipment and managing their configuration. While OEM (original equipment manufacturer) solutions exist to interact with and automate the operation of individual pieces of equipment, experiments often require the use of multiple pieces of equipment. Using OEM solutions requires users to run a standalone vendor tool to interact with each piece of equipment, or alternatively, write a patchwork of scripts that each automate the operation of a single piece of equipment in isolation. Similarly, the data captured from equipment using the OEM tools is not consistent between tools and may be stored in proprietary formats. Conversely, Benches platform provides a unifying framework, including a graphical user interface, scripting support, and integrated interfaces for many types of equipment, that enables users to easily run complex experiments where multiple pieces of equipment are operating in unison. Additionally, the data captured with Benches platform is centralized and stored in a consistent format to facilitate analysis. Benches platform also provides facilities to manage user access to both lab equipment and experiment data.