# Agentic AI for operating scientific instruments for nanoscale characterization

arXiv: https://arxiv.org/abs/2608.26198 · HTML: https://mlsanity.com/paper/2608.26198/

## Key facts

- No citing papers in the map yet (data through 14 Oct 2026).
- Placed in Medical and scientific domain agents, one of 16 directions in LLM agents and tool use.
- Builds on 8 of its 58 references that are in the map.
- First posted on arXiv 25 Aug 2026.

## 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, 8 of 8)

- [ChemCrow: Augmenting large-language models with chemistry tools](https://mlsanity.com/paper/2304.05376/) (2023)
- [Model Context Protocol (MCP): Landscape, Security Threats, and Future Research Directions](https://mlsanity.com/paper/2503.23278/) (2025)
- [ORGANA: A Robotic Assistant for Automated Chemistry Experimentation and Characterization](https://mlsanity.com/paper/2401.06949/) (2024)
- [Agentic AI: A Comprehensive Survey of Architectures, Applications, and Future Directions](https://mlsanity.com/paper/2510.25445/) (2025)
- [Advancing Multi-Agent Systems Through Model Context Protocol: Architecture, Implementation, and Applications](https://mlsanity.com/paper/2504.21030/) (2025)
- [Synergizing Human Expertise and AI Efficiency with Language Model for Microscopy Operation and Automated Experiment Design](https://mlsanity.com/paper/2401.13803/) (2024)
- [Applying Fine-Tuned LLMs for Reducing Data Needs in Load Profile Analysis](https://mlsanity.com/paper/2406.02479/) (2024)
- [Adaptive Scan for Atomic Force Microscopy Based on Online Optimisation: Theory and Experiment](https://mlsanity.com/paper/1902.04209/) (2019)

## Abstract (arXiv)

Operating a scientific instrument such as an atomic force microscope (AFM) requires continuous expert decision-making. A trained user defines the experimental intent, translates it into instrument commands, assesses incoming data, adjusts imaging parameters, and post-processes the final image. Existing automation usually addresses only parts of this workflow through hard-coded routines, task-specific controllers, or trained machine-learning models. Here we present an agentic-AI framework that operates the executable part of the AFM workflow using a general-purpose, tool-augmented large language model connected to instrument functions through the Model Context Protocol (MCP). The framework consists of 3 MCP-based agents: AFM Messenger converts natural-language instructions into checked instrument commands; AFM Pilot assesses image quality through a large language model (LLM) and, if necessary, adapts imaging parameters; and AFM Doctor diagnoses image artifacts and applies transparent post-processing from a pre-approved tool set. Because the language model performs image assessment rather than a fixed scalar objective or external optimizer, the same strategy can be applied across sample types and imaging modes without specific retraining. Safe hardware operation is enforced through an ambiguity check layer before execution. Benchmarking against fine-tuned and off-the-shelf tool-using models shows that this guarded execution layer, rather than model capability alone, reduces wrong-command execution to zero. In live experiments on different samples, AFM Pilot matched expert operators in image quality, iteration count, and tuning time, with no significant difference. These results demonstrate a safe route to agentic operation of scientific instruments, where experimental intent remains human-defined while command execution, image-based tuning, and post-processing are delegated to AI agents.