About this Abstract |
| Meeting |
2026 TMS Annual Meeting & Exhibition
|
| Symposium
|
2026 Technical Division Student Poster Contest
|
| Presentation Title |
SPU-30: Robotic Arm for Autonomous Laboratories |
| Author(s) |
Jack B. Saussy, Bree Mitchell, Sing Piper, Hans Krull, Jacob Stanley, JJ Lee, Jonathan Klenk, Peter Scuderi, Henry Pritham, Eldwin Solina, Donna Bodeau, William Harris, Zoe Gingrich, Nathan S. Johnson |
| On-Site Speaker (Planned) |
Jack B. Saussy |
| Abstract Scope |
Autonomous laboratories have been increasingly adopted in materials science to accelerate experimentation and improve precision through automated workflows. This work presents the design and development of a robotic arm for precise sample handling of steel sample holders in materials laboratories. The system interfaces with a ZEISS VERSA X-ray Microscope (XRM), enabling automated sample loading and unloading. The robotic platform employs a three-axis cylindrical configuration, which offers reduced complexity compared to six-axis systems, improved energy efficiency, and lower cost for structured laboratory tasks. A custom end effector ensures repeatable alignment with ZEISS sample holders, while operational safety is enhanced through a vision-based obstacle detection algorithm supplemented by proximity sensors. This task-specific approach improves experimental throughput, safety, and accessibility of autonomous XRM workflows in materials research. By prioritizing task-specific design over general-purpose manipulation, this system demonstrates a scalable and cost-effective approach to laboratory automation. |
| Proceedings Inclusion? |
Undecided |
| Keywords |
Characterization, Process Technology, Machine Learning |