Tokyo Lab Tests Ten Robots for Automated Biology Experiments

The Robotics Innovation Center at the Institute of Science Tokyo opened its automated laboratory in April. Ten two-armed robots currently handle liquids, grow cells on plates, and operate scientific instruments. The robots contain artificial-intelligence software that allows them to make some experimental decisions.

One program tested 144 conditions over 111 days to determine optimal settings for culturing human stem cells.

In another test, an AI program imaged cultured cells, predicted their growth, and calculated the best harvest time. The same robots maintained cell cultures continuously for eight days during a holiday period when researchers were absent. Genki Kanda, an automation researcher at the center, said the robots perform repetitive tasks so scientists can focus on experiment design and data interpretation.

Kanda added that humans still prepare reagents, troubleshoot equipment, and correct robot errors.

Kanda stated the laboratory plans to open to other institute researchers later this year. The longer-term goal is a facility with thousands of robots that could serve local and international scientists by 2040 or 2050. Yan Zeng, a materials scientist at Vanderbilt University, said such a large automated laboratory would be exciting and expressed interest in global access similar to facilities like CERN.

Andrew Cooper, a chemist at the University of Liverpool, noted that fully autonomous labs remain distant because integrating AI with physical robots requires advanced programming.