A Multi-Arm Robotic Platform for Scientific Exploration

TL;DR

This paper introduces a novel multi-arm robotic platform designed for scientific exploration, demonstrating its capabilities through teleoperated experiments including cranial window preparation and other dexterous tasks, with digital twins available online.

Contribution

The work presents the first prototype of an AI-robot science platform with digital twins, enabling advanced scientific experimentation and validation in teleoperation scenarios.

Findings

Successful teleoperated execution of complex tasks like cranial window drilling

Demonstration of dexterity through peg transfer and gauze cutting

Availability of digital twins for broader research use

Abstract

There are a large number of robotic platforms with two or more arms targeting surgical applications. Despite that, very few groups have employed such platforms for scientific exploration. Possible applications of a multi-arm platform in scientific exploration involve the study of the mechanisms of intractable diseases by using organoids, i.e., miniature human organs) The study of organoids requires the preparation of a cranial window, which is done by carefully removing an 8 mm patch of the skull of a mouse. In this work, we present the first prototype of our AI-robot science platform for scientific experimentation, its digital twins, and perform validation experiments under teleoperation. The experiments showcase the dexterity of the platform by performing peg transfer, gauze cutting, mock experiments using eggs, and the world's first four-hand teleoperated drilling for a cranial window. The digital twins and related control software are freely available for noncommercial use at https://AISciencePlatform.github.io.