Visual Servoing for Online Facilities
Visual servoing for online facilities aims at automated manipulation of instrument control parameters based on visual-scene interpretation. It provides a layer of computing that hides the latency in the Internet environment and simplifies the use of scientific imaging instruments. This approach makes remote real-time imaging experiments feasible over unpredictable wide area networks. The authors' efforts focus on developing a framework for remotely manipulating microscopic objects. Two diverse applications demonstrate the framework's usefulness: microdissection of DNA molecules and in situ examination of crystal formation. Microdissection and subsequent amplification of DNA molecules allow for rapid closure of gaps in the genomic library. In situ experiments reveal information about the thermal and morphological properties of crystal structures.