Workflow Execution Interface (WEI) - Streamlining Autonomous Scientific Discovery through Open-Source Robotics and Instrumentation Integration

Explore how to overcome integration barriers in autonomous scientific discovery through this 38-minute webinar presented by computer scientist Casey Stone from Argonne National Laboratory. Learn about the Workflow Execution Interface (WEI), an open-source, extensible Python-centric software framework developed by the Rapid Prototyping Laboratory team to coordinate diverse scientific instruments and robotics for fully automated laboratory operations. Discover how WEI enables scientists to execute experimental workflows using human-readable YAML formatted definitions and how Docker containers facilitate rapid deployment and operation of instruments controlled via REST, ROS2, and other protocols. Understand the practical applications of this framework through benchmark studies and real-world deployments in biology and material science experiments. Gain insights into the development of self-driving lab robotics projects and the integration of robotics, scientific instruments, and AI to execute autonomous closed-loop experiments from an expert who oversees robotic experimentation platforms and daily operations of rapid prototyping facilities.