# BioMARS: A Multi-Agent Robotic System for Autonomous Biological Experiments

arXiv: https://arxiv.org/abs/2507.01485 · HTML: https://mlsanity.com/paper/2507.01485/

## Key facts

- Cited by 7 papers in the map (data through 14 Oct 2026).
- Placed in Medical and scientific domain agents, one of 16 directions in LLM agents and tool use.
- Builds on 12 of its 38 references that are in the map.
- First posted on arXiv 2 Jul 2025.

## Placed in

- LLM agents and tool use / [Medical and scientific domain agents](https://mlsanity.com/agents/medical-and-scientific-domain-agents/)

## Builds on (most cited first, 12 of 12)

- [Attention Is All You Need](https://mlsanity.com/paper/1706.03762/) (2017)
- [MiniGPT-4: Enhancing Vision-Language Understanding with Advanced Large Language Models](https://mlsanity.com/paper/2304.10592/) (2023)
- [Vision-Language Models for Vision Tasks: A Survey](https://mlsanity.com/paper/2304.00685/) (2023)
- [A Survey on Visual Transformer](https://mlsanity.com/paper/2012.12556/) (2020)
- [ChemCrow: Augmenting large-language models with chemistry tools](https://mlsanity.com/paper/2304.05376/) (2023)
- [Agentic Retrieval-Augmented Generation: A Survey on Agentic RAG](https://mlsanity.com/paper/2501.09136/) (2025)
- [Scientific Large Language Models: A Survey on Biological & Chemical Domains](https://mlsanity.com/paper/2401.14656/) (2024)
- [ORGANA: A Robotic Assistant for Automated Chemistry Experimentation and Characterization](https://mlsanity.com/paper/2401.06949/) (2024)
- [CRISPR-GPT for Agentic Automation of Gene-editing Experiments](https://mlsanity.com/paper/2404.18021/) (2024)
- [BioPlanner: Automatic Evaluation of LLMs on Protocol Planning in Biology](https://mlsanity.com/paper/2310.10632/) (2023)
- [BioRAG: A RAG-LLM Framework for Biological Question Reasoning](https://mlsanity.com/paper/2408.01107/) (2024)
- [BioinspiredLLM: Conversational Large Language Model for the Mechanics of Biological and Bio-inspired Materials](https://mlsanity.com/paper/2309.08788/) (2023)

## Built on by (most cited first, 7 of 7)

- [AutoResearch AI: Towards AI-Powered Research Automation for Scientific Discovery](https://mlsanity.com/paper/2605.23204/) (2026)
- [BioProAgent: Neuro-Symbolic Grounding for Constrained Scientific Planning](https://mlsanity.com/paper/2603.00876/) (2026)
- [ProtoAct: Turning Wet-Lab Protocols into Embodied Robotic Actions](https://mlsanity.com/paper/2608.01690/) (2026)
- [Keyframe-Guided Structured Rewards for Reinforcement Learning in Long-Horizon Laboratory Robotics](https://mlsanity.com/paper/2603.00719/) (2026)
- [CellScientist: From Execution Feedback to Auditable Model-Revision Trajectories for Cellular Perturbation Prediction](https://mlsanity.com/paper/2605.07335/) (2026)
- [GRAFT: Grounded and Efficient Online Reinforcement Adaptation for Fine-Grained Robot Manipulation](https://mlsanity.com/paper/2608.27079/) (2026)
- [Artificial intelligence and biosecurity: capabilities, threat pathways, and defense-in-depth governance](https://mlsanity.com/paper/2609.16213/) (2026)

## Abstract (arXiv)

Large language models (LLMs) and vision-language models (VLMs) have the potential to transform biological research by enabling autonomous experimentation. Yet, their application remains constrained by rigid protocol design, limited adaptability to dynamic lab conditions, inadequate error handling, and high operational complexity. Here we introduce BioMARS (Biological Multi-Agent Robotic System), an intelligent platform that integrates LLMs, VLMs, and modular robotics to autonomously design, plan, and execute biological experiments. BioMARS uses a hierarchical architecture: the Biologist Agent synthesizes protocols via retrieval-augmented generation; the Technician Agent translates them into executable robotic pseudo-code; and the Inspector Agent ensures procedural integrity through multimodal perception and anomaly detection. The system autonomously conducts cell passaging and culture tasks, matching or exceeding manual performance in viability, consistency, and morphological integrity. It also supports context-aware optimization, outperforming conventional strategies in differentiating retinal pigment epithelial cells. A web interface enables real-time human-AI collaboration, while a modular backend allows scalable integration with laboratory hardware. These results highlight the feasibility of generalizable, AI-driven laboratory automation and the transformative role of language-based reasoning in biological research.