Steering towards safe self-driving laboratories.

Journal: Nature reviews. Chemistry
Published Date: Aug 18, 2025

Abstract

The past decade has witnessed remarkable advancements in autonomous systems, such as automobiles that are evolving from traditional vehicles to ones capable of navigating complex environments without human intervention. Similarly, the rise of self-driving laboratories (SDLs), which leverage robotics and artificial intelligence to accelerate discovery, is driving a paradigm shift in scientific research. As SDLs evolve to expand the scope of chemical processes that can be performed, it is essential to bring safety to the forefront to ensure that the necessary safeguards are in place to mitigate against potential accidents that range from near-misses to catastrophic failures. This Perspective examines the development trajectory of SDLs, juxtaposing their development with those of other autonomous technologies, with a particular focus on safety. We explore current safety status and concerns, identify opportunities for innovation to shape this rapidly evolving landscape, and reflect on the actions the SDL community can take moving forward.

Authors

  • Shi Xuan Leong
    Division of Chemistry and Biological Chemistry, School of Chemistry, Chemical Engineering and Biotechnology, Nanyang Technological University, Singapore 637371, Singapore.
  • Caleb E Griesbach
    Department of Chemistry, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, Canada.
  • Rui Zhang
    Department of Cardiology, Zhongda Hospital, Medical School of Southeast University, Nanjing, China.
  • Kourosh Darvish
    Artificial and Mechanical Intelligence, Istituto Italiano di Tecnologia, Genoa, Italy.
  • Yuchi Zhao
    Department of Computer Science, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, Canada.
  • Abhijoy Mandal
    Department of Computer Science, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, Canada.
  • Yunheng Zou
    Department of Computer Science, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, Canada.
  • Han Hao
    Department of Urology, Peking University First Hospital, Institute of Urology, Peking University, National Urological Cancer Center, Xicheng District, Beijing, China.
  • Varinia Bernales
    Department of Chemistry, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, Canada. varinia@bernales.org.
  • Alán Aspuru-Guzik
    Departments of Chemistry, Computer Science, University of Toronto St. George Campus Toronto ON Canada.

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