ASTM_E_1989_-_98_2004.pdf

Designation:E 1989 98(Reapproved 2004)Standard Specification forLaboratory Equipment Control Interface(LECIS)1This standard is issued under the fixed designation E 1989;the number immediately following the designation indicates the year oforiginal adoption or,in the case of revision,the year of last revision.A number in parentheses indicates the year of last reapproval.Asuperscript epsilon(e)indicates an editorial change since the last revision or reapproval.1.Scope1.1 This specification covers deterministic remote control oflaboratory equipment in an automated laboratory.The labor-intensive process of integrating different equipment into anautomated system is a primary problem in laboratory automa-tion today.Hardware and software standards are needed tofacilitate equipment integration and thereby significantly re-duce the cost and effort to develop fully automated laborato-ries.1.2 This Laboratory Equipment Control Interface Specifica-tion(LECIS)describes a set of standard equipment behaviorsthat must be accessible under remote control to set up andoperate laboratory equipment in an automated laboratory.Theremote control of the standard behaviors is defined as standardinteractions that define the dialogue between the equipmentand the control system that is necessary to coordinate opera-tion.The interactions are described with state models in whichindividual states are defined for specific,discrete equipmentbehaviors.The interactions are designed to be independent ofboth the equipment and its function.Standard message ex-changes are defined independently of any specific physicalcommunication links or protocols for messages passing be-tween the control system and the equipment.1.3 This specification is derived from the General Equip-ment Interface Definition developed by the Intelligent Systemsand Robotics Center at Sandia National Laboratory,the Na-tional Institute of Standards and Technologies Consortium onAutomated Analytical Laboratory Systems(CAALS)High-Level Communication Protocol,the CAALS Common Com-mand Set,and the NISTIR 6294(1-4).2This LECIS specifi-cation was written,implemented,and tested by the Roboticsand Automation Group at Los Alamos National Laboratory.1.4 Equipment RequirementsLECIS defines the remotecontrol from a Task Sequence Controller(TSC)of devicesexhibiting standard behaviors of laboratory equipment thatmeet the NIST CAALS requirements for Standard LaboratoryModules(SLMs)(5).These requirements are described indetail in Refs(3,4).The requirements are:1.4.1 Predictable,deterministic behavior,1.4.2 Ability to be remotely controlled through a standardbidirectional communication link and protocol,1.4.3 Maintenance of remote communication even underlocal control,1.4.4 Single point of logical control,1.4.5 Universal unique identifier,1.4.6 Status information available at all times,1.4.7 Use of appropriate standards including the standardmessage exchange in this LECIS,1.4.8 Autonomy in operation(asynchronous operation withthe TSC),1.4.9 Perturbation handling,1.4.10 Resource management,1.4.11 Buffered inputs and outputs,1.4.12 Automated access to material ports,1.4.13 Exception monitoring and reporting,1.4.14 Data exchange via robust protocol,1.4.15 Fail-safe operation,1.4.16 Programmable configurations(for example,I/Oports),1.4.17 Independent power-up order,and1.4.18 Safe start-up behavior.2.Terminology2.1 Definitions of Terms Specific to This Standard:2.1.1 command messagecommunication from the TSC tothe SLM that is being controlled.Receipt of this messagecauses a state transition in an interaction.2.1.2 device capability datasetdata file that contains all ofthe SLM-specific information required for the TSC to interactwith the SLM(2).This includes definitions of the arguments ofthe standard commands and events,estimates of processingtimes in states,and SLM specific interactions.Material inputand output ports and support services are also defined.2.1.3 errorinfrequent,unplanned event that makes thecurrent goal of the SLM unachievable given the systemresources,the state of the system,or the absence of aguaranteed,alternative plan.(This definition is distinct fromany other ASTM standard definition of error.)1This specification is under the jurisdiction of ASTM Committee E01 onAnalytical Chemistry for Metals,Ores and Related Materials and is the directresponsibility of Subcommittee E01.25 on Laboratory Data Interchange andInformation Management.Current edition approved April 1,2004.Published May 2004.Originallyapproved in 1998.Last previous edition approved in 1998 as E 1989-98.2The boldface numbers in parentheses refer to the list of references at the end ofthis standard.1Copyright ASTM International,100 Barr Harbor Drive,PO Box C700,West Conshohocken,PA 19428-2959,United States.2.1.4 eventchange in the operational state of the SLM thatmust be reported to the TSC.2.1.5 event reportcommunication from the SLM to theTSC indicating an event.2.1.6 exceptionoff-normal change in the operational stat