Automating care by self-maintainability for full laboratory automation

Abstract

The automation of experiments in life sciences and chemistry has significantly advanced with the development of various instruments and artificial intelligence (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. This ability is inspired by the homeostasis, resilience, autonomous state recognition, and adaptability seen in 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. A laboratory design that is aware of 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.