These dev blogs are never to be taken very serious about, but more of a record and reflection upon myself, just like doing yoga and meditating are not meant for competing with anyone.
The Paradox of Beginning¶
Starting a research project typically requires a clear objective. In a corporate setting, it often comes with a S.M.A.R.T. goal table, a SWOT chart, and a few more items to fill—structures as rigid as lined paper. Yet in materials discovery and optimization, such linear planning feels like trying to confine the flow of ink within predefined borders. If materials discovery were that simple and predictable, the push for AI4Science wouldn’t be so significant.
I was often asked, “What do you research, and how is it novel and useful?” My answer has evolved over time—from “enabling prescriptive analysis from predictive behavior” to “just figuring out why and how we research.” I don’t have an absolute answer at this point—isn’t this uncertainty poetic, much like ink bleeding unpredictably on paper?
Figure 1:Robotics in lab: there is always a beginning.
Tracing the Ink Back to Its Source¶
The origins of this project trace back to March 2023 when I was working as a surface analysis engineer. The initial plan was a Master’s degree, but the technological challenges I faced urged me to push further, leading me to pursue a PhD instead. Around that time, Sterling (sgbaird) senpai posted the SDL demo on GitHub (self
Later, in August during the Accelerated Conference, the topic of modularity in self-driving labs came up. This resonated with me deeply, like seeing a pattern emerge in an inkblot. I decided to address this in my own way, letting the ideas flow freely.
An Ink Arrow Pointing Towards Somewhere¶
As my health deteriorated during my last job, spending time thinking and working on a self-driving lab became one of my candles in the dark during many sleepless nights. This small glow gave me the courage to make it the central theme of my PhD research. Although things are still in draft—much like an unfinished ink sketch—I’m grateful to Taylor Sparks, my academic advisor, for trusting me and allowing me to pursue this unconventional idea.
Ink Into a Picture¶
In art, the background is often called a matrix—a term that also appears in linear algebra. Just as ink brings an artwork to life, the paper itself can be a medium for expression; the ink is both the atoms and the information. Embracing this duality and modularity, I named the overall program HaikuSDL. The name reflects the simplicity and depth of a haiku poem, capturing complex ideas in minimal strokes—much like ink on paper. The chocolate demo became a capstone project, symbolizing how even simple materials can be part of innovative research.
Figure 2:The robotic centric lab layout we have so far
Drawing New Lines with a Team¶
As parts and robots slowly arrived, we took the time to clean and reorganize—the previous Master’s student had left quite a mess. Working with Ian and Kaelin, two undergraduate research assistants, has been a blessing at this early phase where effort doesn’t immediately yield rewards. Their fresh perspectives are like new ink flowing onto the page, adding depth and texture to the project./
Figure 3:Ian was helping on the set up of CLSLab:Liquid (Monster Blood) demo
The non-human-friendly lab setup we had reminds us to consider human-in-the-loop design in both physical and digital experiments—ensuring that our lines are drawn with intention and that the ink flows smoothly.
Small Reflections in Ink¶
Embarking on this first chapter of the journey, I realize that research is like drawing with ink: each stroke is permanent, and mistakes become part of the artwork. The process of building HaikuSDL is teaching me not just about materials science or robotics, but about embracing uncertainty and finding beauty in the unexpected paths ink may take. (Yes I am working on a way to quantify uncertainty in SDL)
As we continue to develop the project, I look forward to the discoveries ahead, knowing that each step is an indelible mark on the canvas of science in a weird perspective. lol
Peace,
Kinston