Automating Care by Self-maintainability for Full Laboratory Automation

TL;DR

This paper introduces the concept of self-maintainability (SeM) to enable autonomous adaptation and operational continuity in fully automated laboratories, addressing the critical 'care' tasks often managed by humans.

Contribution

It proposes a novel SeM framework with modular components that allow laboratories to autonomously manage disturbances and execute experiments without human intervention.

Findings

SeM enables autonomous recognition of laboratory state

Dynamic resource management is achieved through SeM

SeM facilitates seamless execution of experiments

Abstract

The automation of experiments in life sciences and chemistry has significantly advanced with the development of various instruments and AI technologies. However, achieving full laboratory automation, where experiments conceived by scientists are seamlessly executed in automated laboratories, remains a challenge. We identify the lack of automation in planning and operational tasks--critical human-managed processes collectively termed "care"--as a major barrier. Automating care is the key enabler for full laboratory automation. To address this, we propose the concept of self-maintainability (SeM): the ability of a laboratory system to autonomously adapt to internal and external disturbances, maintaining operational readiness akin to living cells. A SeM-enabled laboratory features autonomous recognition of its state, dynamic resource and information management, and adaptive responses to unexpected conditions. This shifts the planning and execution of experimental workflows, including scheduling and reagent allocation, from humans to the system. We present a conceptual framework for implementing SeM-enabled laboratories, comprising three modules--Requirement manager, Labware manager, and Device manager--and a Central manager. SeM not only enables scientists to execute envisioned experiments seamlessly but also provides developers with a design concept that drives the technological innovations needed for full automation.