Flexible Laboratory Automation System Based on Distributed Framework: Implementation for Press Process in Polymer Materials Development

Abstract

In this paper, a flexible laboratory automation system based on a distributed framework that is aiming for autonomous scientific experiments is described. The system is also based on the autonomous experiment loop consisting of sample production, evaluation, and parameter exploration. As an example of applying the system, an implementation for the press process in the development of polymer materials was presented. The system utilizes robot manipulation for sample production, evaluation function considering the thickness and pressing time, and experimental parameter exploration by Bayesian optimization. Through verification experiments, the effectiveness of the system was confirmed. Press parameters that satisfy the press conditions and are time-efficient were proposed.