Editing Laboratory robotics (section)

==History==
The first compact computer controlled robotic arms appeared in the early 1980s, and have continuously been employed in laboratories since then.<ref name=":0">{{Cite journal|last = Boyd|first = James|date = 2002-01-18|title = Robotic Laboratory Automation|journal = Science|language = en|volume = 295|issue = 5554|pages = 517–518|doi = 10.1126/science.295.5554.517|issn = 0036-8075|pmid = 11799250| s2cid=108766687 }}</ref> These robots can be programmed to perform many different tasks, including sample preparation and handling.

Yet in the early 1980s, a group led by [[Masahide Sasaki]], from Kochi Medical School, introduced the first fully automated laboratory employing several robotic arms working together with conveyor belts and automated analyzers.<ref name=":0" /><ref>{{Cite journal|last = Felder|first = Robin A.|date = 2006-04-01|title = The Clinical Chemist: Masahide Sasaki, MD, PhD (August 27, 1933–September 23, 2005)|journal = Clinical Chemistry|language = en|volume = 52|issue = 4|pages = 791–792|doi = 10.1373/clinchem.2006.067686|issn = 0009-9147|doi-access = free}}</ref> The success of Sasaki's pioneer efforts made other groups around the world to adopt the approach of Total Laboratory Automation (TLA).

Despite the undeniable success of TLA, its multimillion-dollar cost prevented that most laboratories adopted it.<ref name=":1">{{Cite journal|last = Felder|first = Robin A|date = 1998-12-01|title = Modular workcells: modern methods for laboratory automation|journal = Clinica Chimica Acta|volume = 278|issue = 2|pages = 257–267|doi = 10.1016/S0009-8981(98)00151-X|pmid = 10023832}}</ref> Also, the lack of communication between different devices slowed down the development of automation solutions for different applications, while contributing to keeping costs high. Therefore, the industry attempted several times to develop standards that different vendors would follow in order to enable communication between their devices.<ref name=":1" /><ref>{{Cite journal|last1 = Bär|first1 = Henning|last2 = Hochstrasser|first2 = Remo|last3 = Papenfuß|first3 = Bernd|date = 2012-04-01|title = SiLA Basic Standards for Rapid Integration in Laboratory Automation|journal = Journal of Laboratory Automation|language = en|volume = 17|issue = 2|pages = 86–95|doi = 10.1177/2211068211424550|issn = 2211-0682|pmid = 22357556|doi-access = free}}</ref> However, the success of this approach has been only partial, as nowadays many laboratories still do not employ robots for many tasks due to their high costs.

Recently, a different solution for the problem became available, enabling the use of inexpensive devices, including [[open-source hardware]],<ref>{{Cite book|title = Chapter 1 - Introduction to Open-Source Hardware for Science|last = Pearce|first = Joshua M.|date = 2014-01-01|publisher = Elsevier|isbn = 9780124104624|location = Boston|pages = 1–11|doi = 10.1016/b978-0-12-410462-4.00001-9|chapter = Introduction to Open-Source Hardware for Science}}</ref> to perform many different tasks in the laboratory. This solution is the use of scripting languages that can control mouse clicks and keyboard inputs, like [[AutoIt]].<ref name=":2">{{Cite journal|last=Carvalho|first=Matheus C.|date=2013-08-01|title=Integration of Analytical Instruments with Computer Scripting|journal=Journal of Laboratory Automation|language=en|volume=18|issue=4|pages=328–333|doi=10.1177/2211068213476288|issn=2211-0682|pmid=23413273|doi-access=free}}</ref> This way, it is possible to integrate any device by any manufacturer as long as they are controlled by a computer, which is often the case.

Another important development in robotics which has important potential implications for laboratories is the arrival of robots that do not demand special training for their programming, like [[Baxter (robot)|Baxter, the robot]].