21 20 The research goal is to obtain the best results for the artificial photosynthesis process as quickly as possible. For this purpose, minute volumes of material must be handled safely and reliably in the laboratories. Intelligent systems and components from the LifeTech business unit can relieve humans of repetitive, time-consuming and error-prone tasks. An innovative dispensing robot from Festo, for example, tests variants of an enzyme that is required for the artificial photosynthesis and will finally be incorporated into the droplets. The dispensing head quickly and precisely fills the microtitre plates with tiny droplets of the desired liquids in accordance with the scientists’ specifications. Performance of the individual experiments is automated by this assistant. To enable the researchers to concentrate on their core tasks, the automated equipment in the laboratories must be easy and intuitive to operate. This is an essential task of digitalisation. Specially developed software from Festo with a graphical user interface ensures, for example, that the microtitre plates are displayed and that users can select with a click which of the shafts are to be filled with what quantity and type of fluid. Artificial intelligence methods will continue to provide targeted support for automatic analyses and assessments in future – for example by calculating optima, performing random tests or de- termining which clusters are to be given particular scientific scrutiny. Questions as to the efficient design of plants and systems are becoming increasingly urgent in view of the threat of climate change. The scientists are thus testing the effectiveness and progress of artificial photosynthesis processes in parallel in an algae bioreactor: with a capacity of one and a half litres, this is a smaller version of the PhotoBionicCell from Festo described above. It of course has the same innovative features, for example in its methods of regulation and control, sensor technology and the gassing strategy; but the system is specifically tailored to the requirement profile of the research work and focuses on cultivating the artificially produced cells. Automatic dispensing The digitalised laboratory A bioreactor for research The research bioreactor provides ideal conditions for the scientifically required droplet experiments – and thus also for the research and application of artificial photosynthesis. The experts from Festo are able to automate “living” processes by means of innovative technologies. Although the interdisciplinary specialists are still in the midst of the development process, the reality of the future is already becoming apparent today: when expertise in automation and basic research cooperate in synergy, carbon dioxide-neutral production on a large industrial scale can come closer to becoming reality. A sustainable circular economy can only be realised if humankind strives for it as a common goal. Theoretical knowledge, practical know-how and interdisciplinary linking of the two are required here in a wide variety of fields and sectors. Whether it be control cabinet solutions for bioreactors, innovations in laboratory automation and medical technology, new training professions and courses of study or worldwide cooperation in research and development – not a single aspect is dispensable in the age of biological transformation. Achieving more together Artificial photosynthesis promises a considerable increase in efficiency for bioreactors, whereby synthetically produced droplets take on the role of natural chloroplasts. Scientists are cooperating with experts from Festo to optimise the structure of these droplets as rapidly as possible.
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