Principal investigator: John R Haughery, PhD CSCE
University: Millersville University
Industry partners: Eurofins, Lancaster; Precision Cobotics, LLC
This proposal describes a private-public engineering project between Eurofins Lancaster Laboratories, LLC, Millersville University of Pennsylvania, and Precision Cobotics, LLC to evaluate autonomous mobile robotics (AMRs) for internal glassware logistics within a regulated bio/pharmaceutical laboratory environment. Persistent labor constraints, increasing throughput demands, and the need for greater process digitization have elevated manual material handling as an operational risk across the sector. The project is structured as a Phase 1 feasibility and de-risking effort focused on transporting clean and dirty glassware carts on Floor 3 of Eurofins’ Building M. Through the Robotic WorX program, MU students will perform applied de-risking activities to reduce technical and operational uncertainty associated with AMR deployment and generate actionable data to inform future implementation phases. Partial funding is anticipated through the Pennsylvania Manufacturing Innovation (PMFI) grant, with matching support from Eurofins and MU.