Toward Full Autonomous Laboratory Instrumentation Control with Large Language Models

The control of complex laboratory instrumentation often requires significant programming expertise, creating a barrier for researchers lacking computational skills. This work explores the potential of large language models (LLMs), such as ChatGPT, to enable efficient programming and automation of sc...

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Main Authors: Yong Xie, Kexin He, Andres Castellanos‐Gomez
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Wiley-VCH 2025-08-01
Series:Small Structures
Subjects:
Online Access:https://doi.org/10.1002/sstr.202500173
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author Yong Xie
Kexin He
Andres Castellanos‐Gomez
author_facet Yong Xie
Kexin He
Andres Castellanos‐Gomez
author_sort Yong Xie
collection DOAJ
description The control of complex laboratory instrumentation often requires significant programming expertise, creating a barrier for researchers lacking computational skills. This work explores the potential of large language models (LLMs), such as ChatGPT, to enable efficient programming and automation of scientific equipment. Through a case study involving the implementation of a setup that can be used as a single‐pixel camera or a scanning photocurrent microscope, it is demonstrated how ChatGPT can facilitate the creation of custom scripts for instrumentation control, significantly reducing the technical barrier for experimental customization. Building on this capability, it is further illustrated how LLM‐assisted tools can be used to develop autonomous agents capable of independently operating laboratory instruments. This approach underscores the transformative role of LLM‐based tools in democratizing laboratory automation and accelerating scientific progress.
format Article
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institution Kabale University
issn 2688-4062
language English
publishDate 2025-08-01
publisher Wiley-VCH
record_format Article
series Small Structures
spelling doaj-art-9e8da26deac84b9a8680f1845af46bd12025-08-20T03:59:25ZengWiley-VCHSmall Structures2688-40622025-08-0168n/an/a10.1002/sstr.202500173Toward Full Autonomous Laboratory Instrumentation Control with Large Language ModelsYong Xie0Kexin He1Andres Castellanos‐Gomez2Key Laboratory of Wide Band‐Gap Semiconductor Technology School of Advanced Materials and Nanotechnology Xidian University Xi'an 710071 ChinaKey Laboratory of Wide Band‐Gap Semiconductor Technology School of Advanced Materials and Nanotechnology Xidian University Xi'an 710071 China2D Foundry Research Group Instituto de Ciencia de Materiales de Madrid (ICMM‐CSIC) E‐28049 Madrid SpainThe control of complex laboratory instrumentation often requires significant programming expertise, creating a barrier for researchers lacking computational skills. This work explores the potential of large language models (LLMs), such as ChatGPT, to enable efficient programming and automation of scientific equipment. Through a case study involving the implementation of a setup that can be used as a single‐pixel camera or a scanning photocurrent microscope, it is demonstrated how ChatGPT can facilitate the creation of custom scripts for instrumentation control, significantly reducing the technical barrier for experimental customization. Building on this capability, it is further illustrated how LLM‐assisted tools can be used to develop autonomous agents capable of independently operating laboratory instruments. This approach underscores the transformative role of LLM‐based tools in democratizing laboratory automation and accelerating scientific progress.https://doi.org/10.1002/sstr.202500173ChatGPTinstrumentation controllaboratory automationlarge language modelsscanning photocurrent microscopy
spellingShingle Yong Xie
Kexin He
Andres Castellanos‐Gomez
Toward Full Autonomous Laboratory Instrumentation Control with Large Language Models
Small Structures
ChatGPT
instrumentation control
laboratory automation
large language models
scanning photocurrent microscopy
title Toward Full Autonomous Laboratory Instrumentation Control with Large Language Models
title_full Toward Full Autonomous Laboratory Instrumentation Control with Large Language Models
title_fullStr Toward Full Autonomous Laboratory Instrumentation Control with Large Language Models
title_full_unstemmed Toward Full Autonomous Laboratory Instrumentation Control with Large Language Models
title_short Toward Full Autonomous Laboratory Instrumentation Control with Large Language Models
title_sort toward full autonomous laboratory instrumentation control with large language models
topic ChatGPT
instrumentation control
laboratory automation
large language models
scanning photocurrent microscopy
url https://doi.org/10.1002/sstr.202500173
work_keys_str_mv AT yongxie towardfullautonomouslaboratoryinstrumentationcontrolwithlargelanguagemodels
AT kexinhe towardfullautonomouslaboratoryinstrumentationcontrolwithlargelanguagemodels
AT andrescastellanosgomez towardfullautonomouslaboratoryinstrumentationcontrolwithlargelanguagemodels