Pioneering robotic arm poised to reach new heights in quantum technology

Scientists carrying out quantum research will be able to do so more quickly and adaptably, thanks to a new robotic arm that could be the key to major advances.

The invention, developed by researchers at Quantum Engineering Technology Labs and Bristol Robotics Laboratory (BRL) at the University of Bristol, has a unique design, allowing quantum experiments to be conducted with unprecedented levels of speed, detail and complexity.

Quantum technology has a number of potential real-world applications, from health advances in monitoring the condition of cells to communication in space.

Quantum experiments often require highly constrained environments, sometimes combining ultra-low temperatures, atomic-scale interactions, and tightly aligned laser beams.

By incorporating robotic capabilities into quantum experiments, scientists will now be able to investigate these experiments with greater prototyping speed, control, and robustness.

The research results and the robotic arm were presented in the magazine Advanced Science.

Lead author Dr Joe Smith, senior research associate in the School of Electrical, Electronic and Mechanical Engineering at the University of Bristol, said: “We couldn’t have carried out this experiment using standard laboratory components, so we decided to investigate robotics. We showed that robotic arms are mature enough to navigate very complex environments.”

“We are very interested in this technology improving all types of quantum sensing experiments and hopefully leading these experiments to leave the quantum optics laboratory and find other useful applications, such as in cellular diagnostics.”

Smith and his team were inspired by the way robots are increasingly being used in surgery, as they are able to navigate complicated areas of the body with high precision.

Co-author Dr Krishna Coimbatore Balram, Associate Professor of Quantum Photonic Engineering at the University of Bristol, said: “This work demonstrates the importance of bringing developments from other fields, in this case robotics, to the advancement of quantum technologies.”

The high-strength magnet that the robot holds can be positioned anywhere in three-dimensional space at any angle, bypassing obstacles. Using tools such as electrodes, lasers and mirrored surfaces, robotic arms could facilitate more precise alignment and manipulation for various experimental setups.