OSCAR: A Modular Open-Source Robotic Platform for Biological Laboratories

Biological research often involves complex, repetitive, and high-throughput manipulations that are well-suited to automation. However, current robotic systems generally excel only at narrowly defined tasks or standardized workflows and remain expensive, inflexible, and dependent on proprietary modules or reagents. To address these limitations, we developed the Open-Source Collaborative Automation & Robotics (OSCAR) platform, a flexible and low-cost system designed to perform common laboratory manipulations using standard, human-operated equipment. OSCAR incorporates open-source software and modular hardware to maximize accessibility and affordability. The platform features a robotic arm equipped with a dual-function end-effector: a pipetting module for precise liquid handling and a vision-enabled gripper for manipulating laboratory tools. To demonstrate the platform's versatility, we implemented a representative plasmid assembly workflow, from PCR amplification and enzymatic assembly to transformation, plating, colony picking, PCR screening, and validation by agarose gel electrophoresis. By making this system open-source and compatible with widely used consumables and equipment, we aim to democratize access to automation and broaden its adoption across diverse research environments.