The Robotics Innovation Center, located at the Institute of Science Tokyo University, has established a laboratory at its Yushima campus where robots conduct medical experiments previously performed by human researchers, aiming to automate nearly the entire research process. The facility currently houses 10 robots, including the humanoid Maholo LabDroid, and conducts research autonomously without a human operating staff.
The Maholo LabDroid features two arms capable of performing precise tasks, including reagent transfer, operating temperature-controlled equipment, and automated cell cultivation. Unlike conventional 6-axis robots, Maholo features an additional joint in the upper arm, enabling it to operate efficiently in confined spaces such as lab tables. This extra dexterity enables Maholo to replicate delicate, precise lab movements and to repeat complex processes with high accuracy.
Maholo has already been deployed at a hospital in Kobe, Hyogo Prefecture, specializing in ophthalmology, where it is used in clinical research involving induced pluripotent stem cells, including cell culture tasks. Researchers from the Kobe program have joined the Tokyo-based center to accelerate the development of next-generation autonomous laboratory systems powered by artificial intelligence and robotics. The university intends to substantially expand the number of robots over time by integrating automation systems with artificial intelligence. This initiative addresses challenges faced by research institutions, such as labor shortages and the necessity to minimize human error in experimental procedures.
During the facility’s opening ceremony in April, Robotics Innovation Center director Keiichi Nakayama emphasized the importance of artificial intelligence and robotics in enhancing Japan’s global scientific competitiveness. "We want to make Japan's science the best in the world," said Keiichi Nakayama, head of the center, at an opening ceremony for the facility in mid-April, citing AI and robotics as key tools to achieve that goal. Robots also joined the ribbon-cutting event. The university aims to increase the number of robots to approximately 2,000 by 2040, enabling automation of nearly all research tasks, from hypothesis generation to experimental verification.
The integration of robotics with generative artificial intelligence is streamlining research processes and accelerating pharmaceutical development. Since most laboratory equipment is made for human use, full automation remains difficult, but humanoid robots can bridge this gap by operating existing instruments without major infrastructure changes. Incorporating humanoid robots with agentic AI further reduces the need for constant human oversight and enhances workflow consistency. The organization's AI platform uses advanced machine learning techniques—such as deep generative models, reinforcement learning, and transformers—to identify biological targets and design new molecular structures for drug discovery and sustainability initiatives.
