A robotic apparatus of the kind having a sample manipulation head with
associated positioning system mounted above the main bed of the
apparatus, as used for picking of cells, in particular animal cells, or
for other biological or chemical applications. An imaging station is
arranged on the main bed where a sample container containing a sample can
be placed in an object position. According to the invention, both
excitation and collection optical sub-systems are mounted under the main
bed of the apparatus for performing spectroscopic analysis on a sample at
the imaging station. The integration is based on a reflection mode
optical solution, which allows all the optical components to be mounted
under the main bed of the apparatus. Consequently, ancillary software
driven or manual processes can be carried on with whether or not
spectroscopic measurements are being made.