We’ve been learning in science class about a really cool thing called chemistry lab automation. That is when sophisticated robotic systems allow lab scientists to perform experiments faster and with higher quality. It is as if we have super smart robots that help us with our science projects!
Now, let’s say you need to mix lots of different chemicals in specific ways to create a new type of slime. The mixing part will not need to be done by hand, because a robot can do it for you! These robots can follow very specific instructions to ensure that everything is mixed just-so. This saves scientists a bunch of time and accuracy on their experiments.
Automation technology makes it easier for scientists to think new thoughts and discover new things quicker. With robots taking care of the repetitive tasks, scientists will be able to spend more time thinking up new ways to conduct experiments and exploring more about the way chemicals work. This enables them to discover and invent new things much more rapidly.
When you want to see what chemicals are present in a sample, you have to do chemical analysis. This is where you use special tools to determine which elements and compounds are there. Robots can assist with that by performing the analysis extremely rapidly and accurately. This is how scientists can trust the results they obtain, and use them to learn more about the world we live in.
It’s always important to be safe while doing experiments in a chemistry lab. Robots can also assist with this by managing substances and processes that would be risky for people. This is to keep scientists safe and help them get down to business without having to worry about getting hurt. It also greatly increases the productivity of the lab: Robots aren’t human and can work around the clock without getting tired.
Automated workflows allow scientists to program a list of experiments to happen in succession, without needing to be present to monitor them. It means they can begin an experiment in the evening and return the next morning to check for results. It is a time saver and more experiments can be done in the same period of time. It even sparks some exciting new discoveries and innovations in the world of chemistry.