SmartLab: Flexible and interoperable manufacturing laboratory system for remote education and research using a mobile manipulator

Abstract Advancements in information and communications technology and artificial intelligence have led to a new era of remote autonomous operation, enhancing the ability to recognize and manipulate objects in 3D space. Building upon the basic chemical autonomous experimental system, this study integrates mechanical specimens and measurement devices into an interoperable laboratory platform with a mobile manipulator. This study introduces a fully open-source hierarchical computational laboratory automation platform that enables researchers in remote locations to operate experimental devices and obtain results through high-level commands. A novel legacy equipment retrofitting methodology is proposed, in which legacy equipment is classified into three categories with their respective internet-of-things-based communication-enabling methodologies. The effectiveness of the proposed system is demonstrated through a detailed case study involving international remote laboratory education and experiment automation to measure the physical properties of additively manufactured specimens. The demonstration showed the SmartLab's successful conversion of an existing engineering laboratory to a remote and automated laboratory. An intercontinental remote material testing experimental class was successfully performed between Tanzania and Korea providing hands on experience to students. In addition, material property of additively manufactured parts is automatically experimented without human intervention where 90 specimens are automatically manufactured and tested. Results show that by using the SmartLab system, the efficiency of the experimental procedure can be significantly increased by processing specimens 2.5 times more than human researchers per day. The experimental results obtained with SmartLab is well aligned with previous research demonstrating the potential for automated research.