Version information

What has changed with each new version of the program?

This page shows most of the changes that have taken place with each incremental upgrade. Not all changes are shown, as some of the internal changes are not noticed by the user. If you have suggestions for improvements or ideas to new features, please send an e-mail to info@foxylogic.com.

Main Control Program

Coming in the following version(s):

• Implementation of true event based controls.

• Automatic online Neural Network Software Sensor training.

• Comparison graphing. Generation of 'Golden Batch' data for comparison graphing.

• Fed-batch simulation module using component-wise mass balances, Monod type substrate uptake etc. Module is intended to be used for educational simulations and for testing strategies using the intelligent feeding and control modules.

• More intelligent feeding and control modules.

• Principal components analysis for supervision and as a diagnostic tool. Early detection of batch faults. (See: Albert, S. and Kinley, R.D. (2001) Trends Biotechnol. 19, 53-62).

• Kohonen networks for batch phase classification.

• Support for handheld devices (PDA with Windows CE, PocketPC 2002, or Smart Phone 2002) with internet connection available.

• Support for Applikon, Corning CellCube, and Infors fermentors.

Changes in v. 4.4: (16-02-2008)

• Implementation of gas mix data logging for BioStat fermentors

• Added mail server login option often required by commercial mail providers

• Bug fixed: Renaming Offline Data variables caused loss of data logging in some cases.

• Bug fixed: Substrate and temperature settings in "Timed Events" were not set correctly.

• Bug fixed: Changing of data sample rate affected the "Timed Events" execution.

• Bug fixed: Changing of temperature setpoint on BioFlo 110 was not executed correctly.

Changes in v. 4.3: (15-02-2005)

• Software substrate concentration probing control for fed-batch fermentations. Detection of DO spikes and valleys during feed rate de- and increases. (See: Åkesson, M., Hagander, P. and Axelsson, J.P. (1999) Biotechnol. Techniques, 13, 523-528) (beta testing in this version).

• Printing of Batch and System Run logs now possible.

• Historical graphing. Old batches can be plotted for comparison graphing.

• Data sampling rate can be user-defined from 10 to 99999 sec.

• Alarm module updated to include substrate addition also. The module can send of Emails, turn on beepers, or write to a log file.

• pH-Stat start and stop logging added.

• Connections to BioFlo III, BioFlo 110, IIc and BioFlo 4000 have been updated.

• Connections to BioStat MD and BioStat B-150 C fermentors have been updated.

• Bug fixed: pH-Stat did not work reliable when adding substrate under pH trigger value.

• Access database format changed to Access 2002 format.

• Bug fixed: The data transmission between the Fermentor Control Program and the internet client has been improved to avoid data brake up. New client version available.

Changes in v. 4.2: (01-03-2004)

• Scripting module (VBA) to give you full access to all data, setpoints, and modules via script files.

• Alarm module to allow for process value monitoring. The module can send of Emails, turn on beepers, or write to a log file.

• pH-stat and DO-stat feeding models have been added to the fuzzy logic control module. With these you can control cell growth through pH controlled feeding or through DO controlled feeding strategies.

• Graphical views of fuzzy logic module rule evaluation and output values.

• Simple pH-Stat added. pH trigger value and substrate pulse time can be set.

• Batch age synchronization during a running batch. Now you can collect data before inoculation and synchronize time when inoculating the fermentor.

• Improved the support for the full NBS BioFlo fermentor range. Connections to BioFlo 110, IIc and BioFlo 4000 have been updated.

• Improved support for BioStat MD and BioStat B-150 C fermentors.

• Access database format changed to Access 2000 format.

• Bug fixed: Incorrectly temperature and agitation values were reported for some fermentors types.

Changes in v. 4.1: (01-12-2002)

• Support for New Brunswick BioFlo III, 3000 and 110 fermentors.

• User rights control, implementation of Administrator, Batch Owner, and Batch Observer rigths.

• Support for eXtensible Markup Language (XML). By exporting your process data in the XML document format, you have the best way for passing data between applications including web applications and handheld devices.

• Automatic extraction of training data for the Neural Network Software Sensor from completed fermentation runs, where the substrate concentration has been sampled. Validation sets are created on demand.

• Data outlier detection in pre-training data for the Neural Network Software Sensor.

• Database tools have been enhanced. Historian databases are generated on demand.

• Treeview to show user activity.

• Bug fixed: An fatal error was raised on some computer systems when selecting the 'largest time scale' option in the graph window.

• Bug fixed: The database system implemented in version 4.0 was not working on some computer systems.

Changes in v. 4.0: (10-11-2001)

• IMPORTANT:From version 4.0 Distributed Component Object Model (DCOM) is used. For windows 95 and 98 you may need to download and install DCOM95 or DCOM98 in order to install the Fermentor Control Program.

  Windows 95 -> DCOM95: http://www.microsoft.com/com/dcom/dcom95/dcom1_3.asp
  Windows 98 -> DCOM98: http://www.microsoft.com/com/dcom/dcom98/dcom1_3.asp

• Access database system for storage of on-line and off-line process values and derived data. The database module incorporates user and batch control, current and historic views of data. Predefined Access reports and queries supplied with database (Use of these requires Microsoft Access installed).

• Better detection of the correct serial communication port and identification of communication errors.

• Better graphics in the fermentor tank overview window. Live data and graphics in synoptic window.

• Issues with decimal symbol has been addressed. You may have to change the decimal symbol in sensor.nnf and fuzzy logic *.MF files. Refer to the manual for more information.

• New option window to customise the program to match your fermentor and associated equipment.

• The protocol for TCP/IP communication with the Client program has been updated. Version 4.0 only works with Client version 2.0 or higher.

• Enhancement of code for better performance.

Changes in v. 3.2: (20-05-2001)

• IMPORTANT: The program development has moved to a newer version of the programming tool. This means that you have to do a full install when updating from version 3.1 or lower. On the upside, you gain some program speed. You can have version 3.1 and 3.2 co-existing on the same computer.

• All windows that are displaying collected data can be opened and closed as needed.

• The control of the fuzzy logic module has been improved. You can now choose to use any combination of input for control of substrate.

• The time resolution in the Profile editor module has been increased to 5 minutes.

• Sampling of training data for the neural network software sensor has been further enhanced. Now you can sample data and do the off-line assays for substrate measurements later. On screen, a dialog box with a time stamp a left for you to enter data when it is ready.

• The training program for the neural network software sensor has been enhanced. The input and output data are now re-scaled between -1 to 1 and 0.1 to 0.9, respectively. This re-scaling enables maximum training speed and should also result in more stable software sensor output. NOTE: The changes made will require that you re-train the network using the new tool.

• NOTE: You may need at patch from Microsoft to use this new feature. If the IP entry box does not show, download the pacth from here.

Changes in v. 3.1: (20-12-2000)

• A window with all process and derived data from the last two hours in table format has been added.

• Sampling of training data for the neural network software sensor has been enhanced, thus now you can sample data without the software sensor running. The training program for the neural network software sensor has also been enhanced. Possible optimally trained networks are saved during training and can be tested after training has been completed.

• More information in the fuzzy control frame in the main control window has been added. The target substrate setpoint is now shown.

• The graph showing the predicted software concentration has been updated to be clearer. A sliding time window of 60 min is now shown.

• The program can now be run in test mode without any fermentor connected.

• The protocol for TCP/IP communication with the Client program has been updated. Version 3.1 only works with Client version 1.3 or higher.

• IP number entry has been improved. NOTE: You may need at patch from Microsoft to use this new feature. Download it from here.

Changes in v. 3.0: (26-10-2000)

• A window with a schematic drawing of the fermentation tank has been added. In this window current numerical process values are shown.

• A neural network Software Substrate sensor module has been implemented. With this module, the substrate concentration in the fermentation tank can be estimated using artificial intelligence. This information can be used as simple information. However by incorporating this into the fuzzy logic module, a very efficient substrate control can be achieved.

• To use the software sensor, the Fermentor Control program needs a file, which describe the trained neural network (Sensor.nnf). A program to train the software substrate sensor has been released and is included in the program setup package. After training the neural network, the sensor.nnf file is created which can be used by the main fermentor control program.

• Bug fixed: Newer firmware versions on BioStat B and micro-DCU systems resulted in errors during communication with the Fermentor Control program. These issues have been resolved. If you have had problems in getting the program to work, please try this new version.

• A tool to test the communication between the fermentor and computer has been uploaded (TestComm).

Changes in v. 2.1: (01-05-2000)

• Bug fixed: If profiles were enabled with out the fuzzy logic module running, an error would be raised. WORKAROUND for version 2.0: Turn on the fuzzy logic module just once and close it again.

• The entries in the profile editor are now sorted to give better overview. Moreover, control of fuzzy logic module and smaller intervals for set points has improved the profile editor.

• The graph display has been updated to be scalable and run faster. You can choose how many data points you want to display and which scaling for the Y-axis you want.

• IP number entry has been improved. NOTE: You may need at patch from Microsoft to use this new feature. Download it from here.

Changes in v. 2.0: (03-01-2000)

• The internet client version 1.1 has been finished and incorporated into version 2.0 of the control program. The client version has been uploaded to the BioStat homepage.

• A fuzzy logic control module has been added to control substrate addition on the basis of prior operator knowledge.

• Profile editor module now enables users to setup future changes which are executed at any entered time point. Following set points can be controlled: Temperature, agitation, oxygen, pH, and substrate addition (incl. new set points for fuzzy logic module).

• The graph display has been updated to show time and value for data point when mouse pointer is over it.

• Nonessential Y2K update: long year format can be shown in main control window.

Changes in v. 1.1: (10-08-1999)

• Minor changes to the code for better performance.

Client Control Program

Changes in v. 2.1: (01-01-2005)

• Changes made to the Client Control Program relate to the TCP/IP transfer protocol incorporated in the Fermentor Control program. Thus, Client version 2.1 will only work with version 4.3 or higher of the Fermentor Control program.

• Minor changes in layout and code for better performance.

Changes in v. 2.0: (10-11-2001)

• Changes made to the Client Control Program relate to the TCP/IP transfer protocol incorporated in the Fermentor Control program. Thus, Client version 2.0 will only work with version 4.0 or higher of the Fermentor Control program.

• Minor changes in layout and code for better performance.

Changes in v. 1.3: (20-12-2000)

• Client version 1.3 will only work with version 3.2 of the Fermentor Control program.

• Bug fixed: Date and time of fermentation start were not transferred correctly.

• IP number entry has been improved. NOTE: You may need at patch from Microsoft to use this new feature. Download it from here.

• Minor changes in layout and code for better performance.

Changes in v. 1.2: (01-05-2000)

• Minor changes to the code for better performance.

• The graph display has been updated to be scalable and run faster. You can choose how many data points you want to display and which scaling for the Y-axis you want.

• Nonessential Y2K update: long year format can be shown in main control window.

Changes in v. 1.1: (27-09-1999)

• IP number entry has been improved. NOTE: You may need at patch from Microsoft to use this new feature. Download it from here.

• A progress bar has been added to provide visual display of the data receival progress.

• The data transfer protocol has been updated to speed up data communication with the fermentor host program.

• The graph display has been updated to show time and value for data point when mouse pointer is over it.

Last modified februar 16, 2008 23:03