Sidekick: A Low-Cost Open-Source 3D-printed liquid dispensing robot
HardwareX often includes complete design files + BOM; strong ‘open hardware’ fit.
- Year
- 2022
- Skill
- high
- Docs
- moderate
- Rubric
- 4.2 / 5
Implementation assessment
Scoring by criterion
Scores describe accessibility and implementation characteristics reported in the reviewed source. They are not a measure of scientific quality.
Resolution
Minimum volume evidence about 10 uL.
Scalability/Throughput
Evidence of parallel, plate-scale, multi-head, or unattended operation.
Build and Part Sourcing Complexity
Mostly off-the-shelf or kit-based components.
Skill Complexity
Build/operation described as low-skill or basic assembly.
Equipment/Cosumable/Facility Requirement Accessibility
Uses common benchtop/desktop equipment or generic consumables.
Application Level
Presented as modular or usable across multiple workflows.
Accessibility to documentation
Multiple open resources named: files/code/BOM/protocol documentation.
Validation/Troubleshooting Complexity
Validation includes standards, benchmarking, replicates, or multi-condition tests.
Speed/Cycle Time
Speed evidence suggests rapid, real-time, or automated operation.
Build Time
Build/setup evidence indicates same-day or <4 h setup.
Linked tools
Record metadata
Publication data
Crossref and OpenAlex
Publication record
Abstract
The Sidekick is a desktop liquid dispenser, compatible with standard SBS microplates and designed for accessible laboratory automation. It features an armature-based motion system and a fully 3D-printed chassis to reduce overall mechanical complexity and accommodate user modification. Liquid dispensing is achieved with four commercially available solenoid driven positive displacement pumps that deliver liquid in 10 µL increments. A Raspberry Pi Pico RP2040 processor programmed in MicroPython is used for control, and exposes a USB serial interface for users to submit commands using either a simple vocabulary of commands or a subset of G-Code. At a total cost of $710 USD, the Sidekick offers laboratories an easy to build, easily maintained, open-source liquid dispensing system for both research and pedagogical introductions to lab automation.
Bibliographic details
Access and metrics
Topics and keywords
Funding
- Camille and Henry Dreyfus Foundation Inc · TH-14-010
- National Science Foundation · CNS-2018427
- Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency · HR001118C0036
Perspective and practical signals
Why it matters
HardwareX often includes complete design files + BOM; strong ‘open hardware’ fit.
Limitations
can't aspirate, only dispense (not fully functional like a manual pipette) | Dispense-only -- cannot aspirate, so it is not a full substitute for a manual pipette