AIとロボットが実験の「裏方作業」もする未来～実験室全体を完全自動化する設計思想の提案～

2025-08-19 理化学研究所,筑波大学,梅馨堂合同会社,東京科学大学

理化学研究所らの共同研究グループは、実験室全体を完全自動化する新概念「Self-maintainability（SeM）」と、それを実装した「SeM対応ラボ」の設計思想を提案しました。従来の自動化はロボットが操作を担う一方、試薬補充や装置管理、エラー対応といった“裏方作業（ケア）”は人に依存していました。SeMは細胞の恒常性維持機能に着想を得て、ラボ自体が状態を把握し資源補充や外乱対応を自律的に行う仕組みです。SeM対応ラボはAIによる中央制御と三つの基幹モジュール（要件管理・資源管理・機器管理）で構成され、ユーザーは完璧な指示を与える存在ではなく「意図を伝える協力者」として位置付けられます。これにより柔軟かつ効率的な自動実験が可能となり、創薬や再生医療、材料開発など多様な分野で研究効率を大幅に向上させると期待されます。本成果は科学誌『Digital Discovery』に掲載されました。

完全自動化研究を加速させるSeM対応ラボ

＜関連情報＞

自己維持機能によるケアの自動化：完全な実験室自動化のためのアプローチ Automating care by self-maintainability for full laboratory automation

Koji Ochiai, Yuya Tahara-Arai, Akari Kato, Kazunari Kaizu, Hirokazu Kariyazaki, Makoto Umeno, Koichi Takahashi, Genki N. Kanda and Haruka Ozaki
Digital Discovery Published:19 Aug 2025
DOI:https://doi.org/10.1039/D5DD00151J

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.