labbarm

Labbarm is a term used to describe a laboratory robotic arm, a programmable, multi-axis manipulator designed to perform tasks in scientific laboratories. The term is a portmanteau of lab and arm and appears in technical literature and vendor materials; spelling variants include "lab arm" or "lab-arm." It is most commonly associated with automation in biology, chemistry, and pharmaceutical research.

In design, a lab arm typically features multiple rotary axes, precision actuators, and an interchangeable end effector such as a pipetting module, gripper, or suction head. Many models support cleanroom compatibility, low-particulate construction, sterile attachments, and easy integration with liquid handling systems, plate handlers, or centrifuges. Modern lab arms may be collaborative (cobots) with safety features, force and speed limits, and built-in safety interlocks.

Applications include automated liquid handling, plate handling in high-throughput screening, sample aliquoting, repetitive task execution, and handling of hazardous materials to reduce human exposure and increase throughput. They are commonly integrated with scheduling software, laboratory information management systems (LIMS), and electronic lab notebooks for traceability and data capture.

Care and maintenance involve regular calibration, software updates, replacement of grippers or pipette heads, and cleaning protocols to maintain accuracy and prevent cross-contamination. Selection criteria include reach, payload, repeatability, precision, compatibility with solvents and reagents, and alignment with existing laboratory infrastructure and workflows.

Labbarm technology is widespread in academic and industry laboratories aiming to standardize repetitive tasks, improve safety, and enable scalable workflows. See also industrial robots, collaborative robots (cobots), and automated liquid handling systems.