Robot Scientists Take Over Lab in Japan
Ten smart robots can do experiments by themselves and help human scientists work faster.
In Tokyo, Japan, ten robots are running a science lab all by themselves. These robots have two arms and can do experiments without any help from humans. They can mix liquids, grow cells, and use scientific tools. The lab opened in April at the Institute of Science Tokyo.
The robots are much smarter than regular lab machines. They have artificial intelligence software that helps them make decisions. This means they can think about what to do next in an experiment. They don't just follow simple commands like other robots.
Genki Kanda works at the robotics center that built this lab. He says the robots can take care of experiments for many days. Once, they watched over cell cultures for eight whole days while the human scientists were on vacation. The robots never got tired or made mistakes during that time.
The robots save researchers time by doing repetitive tasks, allowing them to focus on designing experiments, interpreting results and generating fresh ideas.
Comprehension quiz preview
1. How many robots work in the Tokyo lab?
2. When did the robot lab open?
3. How long did the robots watch cell cultures while scientists were away?