🏒 AC Training Lab Design Project

Turn your self-driving lab expertise into a real-world project. During this course, you will propose, design, and build a self-driving laboratory at the AC training lab equipped with education- and research-grade equipment including liquid handlers, solid dispensers, Cartesian-axis systems, and mobile robotic arms. Prior to arrival, you’ll create schematic figures, write white papers, and present your proposals to a team of scientists. During a week-long in-person experience, you’ll implement your proposal and document your progress. After the visit, you will share your designs, data, and documentation to contribute to the public knowledge base.

🎯 Learning Outcomes

  • Create and illustrate a detailed schematic figure to propose a self-driving lab

  • Compose a concise white paper on the self-driving laboratory

  • Deliver a persuasive and clear presentation of the self-driving lab proposal to a team of scientists

  • Develop and implement a capstone project at the AC Training Lab, demonstrating applied knowledge, problem-solving, and project management skills

  • Compile a detailed project update, including proposed next steps, to demonstrate strategic planning and the ability to evaluate ongoing progress

  • Exhibit and disseminate the project’s designs, data, and documentation publicly

πŸ› οΈ Competencies/Skills

  • Scientific communication

  • Systems design

  • Dissemination

  • Interdisciplinary teamwork

🧩 Modules

This course is expected to take approximately 40 hours to complete.

Module Name

Topics

Learning Outcomes

Project proposal

  • Figures

  • White papers

  • Presentations

  • Propose a self-driving lab via a schematic figure

  • Write a white paper for the self-driving laboratory

  • Present the proposal to a team of scientists

Design and execution

  • SDL design

  • Implementation

  • Documentation

  • Design and execute the project at the AC training lab

  • Provide a project update with proposed next steps

Dissemination

  • Project update

  • Knowledge sharing

  • Data and documentation

  • Share the designs, data, and documentation publicly

βš–οΈ Course Assessments and Grading Schema

Performance in this course is assessed via rubrics that evaluate the quality of the proposal, design/build, and stages. The proposal rubric evaluates the schematic figure, white paper, and presentation. The design rubric evaluates the design, implementation, and documentation. The build rubric evaluates the build, implementation, and documentation. Each module is worth 100 points.

πŸ‘€ Course developer(s)

  • Sterling Baird, PhD Materials Science and Engineering (Acceleration Consortium)