The “Chemist” robot is preparing to transform science laboratories

Imagine a laboratory assistant with the computational and operational power of 10 Ph.D. Students are able to work in extreme environments such as Mars. This vision has become a reality at the University of Science and Technology of China (USTC), where a team of scientists has developed a robotic chemist named Luke.

Designed with a sleek white frame, robotic arms, and advanced components such as an optical system, an AI computing platform, and human-machine interaction software, Luke handles precise tasks such as pouring liquids and grinding solids, while independently designing experiments and testing hypotheses.

Compared to humans, Luke can conduct experiments without rest, achieving an accuracy of 0.1 mm in his operations.

“The most striking thing is Locke’s ability to learn and analyze,” said Zhao Luyuan, a 26-year-old Ph.D. A student who has worked on the project for more than three years. “It can learn from 50,000 academic papers in two weeks and verify more than 3.76 million experimental combinations in six weeks.”

“Robots have become powerful tools for scientists,” said Jiang Jun, a professor at Harvard University’s School of Chemistry and Materials Science. “Give them a scientific problem, and they will be able to design experiments, complete them with high efficiency and accuracy, and provide optimal solutions.” USTC.

Since last year, AI chemists developed at the university have made significant advances, including creating oxygen-producing catalysts based on Martian meteorites, a step toward enabling humans to survive long-term on Mars. The robots are also researching organic films to combat counterfeiting currency and cost-effective coal-to-oil technologies.

According to Jiang, artificial intelligence is driving a revolution in scientific research, allowing scientists to break through physical and mental limitations, greatly enhance productivity, and accelerate scientific discoveries.

Robotic chemistry projects have become a global research hotspot, attracting the interest of institutions in countries such as Great Britain, Switzerland and the United States.

This development is in line with China’s efforts in developing humanoid robots, a technological convergence of artificial intelligence, advanced manufacturing and new materials.

China aims to establish a prototype innovation system for humanoid robots by 2025, according to guidelines from the Ministry of Industry and Information Technology. By 2027, the country will see a safe and reliable industrial system and supply chain, while related products will be deeply integrated into the real economy.

According to a report released at the First China Human Robotics Industry Conference in April, the market size of China’s humanoid robot industry is expected to reach 75 billion yuan (US$10.56 billion) by 2029, accounting for 32.7% of the global total. .

Despite these developments, challenges remain. Sun Tao, a professor at the School of Mechanical Engineering at Tianjin University, said improvements in battery life, decision-making, and natural interaction capabilities are still needed before humanoid robots can be widely deployed.

However, for Jiang, the real significance of the emergence of his robotic companion lies in its ability to free human scientists for greater innovation, giving them time to make dreams and discoveries that go beyond the limits of imagination.