Hamilton Robotics announces release of its new MicroLab^® STAR VENUS ONE instrument control software

Hamilton Company’s popular MicroLab^® STARlet, STAR and STARplus automated pipetting workstations are now easier than ever to run with VENUS ONE, the next generation in ‘smart yet simple’ instrument control software.

Designed around the daily needs of researchers in today’s busy labs, VENUS ONE offers a more intuitive and practical approach to STAR workstation programming, making it easy to learn and even easier to use. Expanding on the capabilities of its successful predecessor Vector software, VENUS ONE offers several novel editing modules for fast and straightforward programming, Chief among these is the SuperSimpleMethods module, providing users with a 5-step set-up for common pipetting routines. Creating your method is as simple as: 1) choose your labware 2) select an activity; 3) set pipetting parameters; 4) load your carriers; and 5) hit GO and VENUS does the rest! VENUS ONE software also delivers a host of new user-friendly tools and advanced features for even more power, flexibility and ease-of-use. And, of course, like Vector, VENUS ONE requires no tedious position teaching, allowing for computer-optimized movements and fast assay processing. Rick Luedke, Product Manager at Hamilton Company states, “Our primary motivation for developing VENUS ONE was to make control of the STAR easier than ever. With over 2000 STAR installations worldwide, we received valuable customer feedback and focused on how to best enhance the user-workstation interface, thereby shortening the learning curve, reducing training time, and minimizing requirements for user intervention. This will allow researchers using VENUS ONE to achieve results easier, faster and with more efficiency.”

VENUS ONE also features a new Action Editor, a highly intuitive user interface that provides access to all on-deck actions (ie pipetting, plate transport, incubation). Simple ‘drag & drop’ icons are used to build an extended method, which auto-generates a process schedule and 3D view of the deck. The new StepTemplates module also features an easy ‘drag & drop’ interface, used to produce ‘skeleton templates’ for precise fine tuning of critical assay steps. Additional key customer-centric features include advanced 3-D visualization for outstanding graphical representation of deck layout; novel self-defined liquid class functionality, an improved labware editor and enhanced scheduler, more mapping options for customized data output, Favorites Toolbox for rapid access to optimized steps, expanded error handling options, LLD (liquid level detection) memory for higher speed pipetting operations, optimized control of iSWAP gripper arm for faster plate transport, streamlined control of 3rd party components (ie barcode reader), and additional support for control of new Hamilton hardware (ie camera, tube gripper). Not to forget power users, Hamilton also added more flexibility for sample tracking, unique barcode check, easier database linking and worklist importing, and capabilities for stacking of plate/tip racks and multiple tube rack tracking. As with all Hamilton software, VENUS ONE carries on with the tradition of superior error code handling and response as well as intelligible error code explanations understandable by the common human being. The MicroLab^® STAR VENUS ONE instrument control software will help get the most out of your STAR workstation and is ideal for new, intermediate and advanced users