Assessment of the Utilization of Quadruped Robots in Pharmaceutical Research and Development Laboratories

TL;DR

This paper evaluates the potential of quadruped robots, specifically Boston Dynamics' Spot, for remote inspection in pharmaceutical R&D labs, highlighting current capabilities and future prospects.

Contribution

It provides an assessment of quadruped robots' feasibility for laboratory inspection tasks and discusses upcoming technological advancements in this field.

Findings

Quadruped robots can perform remote inspections in pharmaceutical labs.

Current out-of-the-box capabilities are promising for automation.

Future developments will enhance mobility and dexterity in human-centered environments.

Abstract

Drug development is becoming more and more complex and resource-intensive. To reduce the costs and the time-to-market, the pharmaceutical industry employs cutting-edge automation solutions. Supportive robotics technologies, such as stationary and mobile manipulators, exist in various laboratory settings. However, they still lack the mobility and dexterity to navigate and operate in human-centered environments. We evaluate the feasibility of quadruped robots for the specific use case of remote inspection, utilizing the out-of-the-box capabilities of Boston Dynamics' Spot platform. We also provide an outlook on the newest technological advancements and the future applications these are anticipated to enable.