arXiv subjects

Austin McDannald

Publications and source records attributed to Austin McDannald.

14 recordsLinked to original sources

arXiv2026

Optimal Resource Utilization for Autonomous Laboratory Orchestrators

In autonomous laboratories, AI agents suggest the next batch of experiments to do. However, planning and executing those tasks taking full advantage of the available resources is a completely different question. This can be challenging when dealing with real-world hardware constraints, especially so when there are multiple instruments with different capacities and throughputs. Here we demonstrate a 2-step method to address resource utilization for our autonomous platform for metal-organic framework synthesis. First, we use constraint programming to find optimal schedules. This finds schedules that minimizes the total time while still satisfying the limitations and capacities of the hardware. Secondly, we use a system of status dependencies for each task, which allows for the robust execution of the optimal schedules.

cs.AI↗

arXiv2026

Real-time Multi-instrument Autonomous Discovery of Novel Phase-change Memory Materials

Autonomous labs enable the integration of automated experiment execution, data analysis and decision making. The main challenge remains the integration of diverse data streams from multiple instruments, where the data is often heterogeneous and unsynchronized. The standard learning process of undetermined synthesis-process-structure-property relationships (SPSPR) usually relies on post-experiment analysis after data is fully collected, not during live experiments, and decision making is carried out independently across characterization equipment. Here, we demonstrate the Multi-instrument Autonomous Discovery (MAD) framework -- combining structural property mapping and functional property optimization simultaneously in a closed-loop manner. As an example, we applied MAD to phase change memory (PCM) materials, and, in particular on the Mn-Sb-Te ternary, a previously unexplored materials system for PCM. A multi-output model is employed to merge data from x-ray diffraction (XRD) and electrical resistance measurements simultaneously through a co-regionalization kernel that models the relationship between them. The output probabilistic posterior and uncertainty quantification facilitate decision making with shared knowledge, while the goals are different across tasks. We aimed to maximize the knowledge of crystal structure distribution using non-negative matrix factorization (NMF), while in parallel, we find the composition with the maximum resistance value, an important figure of merit for PCM. Leveraging MAD, we found promising electrical PCMs and identified the SPSPR within 25 closed-loop iterations, corresponding to a seven-fold speed-up. The framework opens a new path of study in large-scale autonomous facilities, where future experiments can be run in parallel together, not independently.

cond-mat.mtrl-sci↗

arXiv2025

Autonomous Small-Angle Scattering for Accelerated Soft Material Formulation Optimization

The pace of soft material formulation (re)development and design is rapidly increasing as both consumers and new legislation demand products that do less harm to the environment while maintaining high standards of performance. To meet this need, we have developed the Autonomous Formulation Lab (AFL), a platform that can automatically prepare and measure the microstructure of liquid formulations using small-angle neutron and X-ray scattering and, soon, a variety of other techniques. Here, we describe the design, philosophy, tuning, and validation of our active learning agent that guides the course of AFL experiments. We show how our extensive in silico tuning results in an efficient agent that is robust to both the number of measurements and signal to noise variation. Finally, we experimentally validate our virtually tuned agent by addressing a model formulation problem: replacing a petroleum-derived component with a natural analog. We show that the agent efficiently maps both formulations and how post hoc analysis of the measured data reveals the opportunity for further specialization of the agent. With the tuned and proven active learning agent, our autonomously guided AFL platform will accelerate the pace of discovery of liquid formulations and help speed us towards a greener future.

cond-mat.soft↗

arXiv2025

Intrinsic Direct Air Capture

We present new metrics to evaluate solid sorbent materials for Direct Air Capture (DAC). These new metrics provide a theoretical upper bound on CO2 captured per energy as well as a theoretical upper limit on the purity of the captured CO2. These new metrics are based entirely on intrinsic material properties and are therefore agnostic to the design of the DAC system. These metrics apply to any adsorption-refresh cycle design. In this work we demonstrate the use of these metrics with the example of temperature-pressure swing refresh cycles. The main requirement for applying these metrics is to describe the equilibrium uptake (along with a few other materials properties) of each species in terms of the thermodynamic variables (e.g. temperature, pressure). We derive these metrics from thermodynamic energy balances. To apply these metrics on a set of examples, we first generated approximations of the necessary materials properties for 11 660 metal-organic framework materials (MOFs). We find that the performance of the sorbents is highly dependent on the path through thermodynamic parameter space. These metrics allow for: 1) finding the optimum materials given a particular refresh cycle, and 2) finding the optimum refresh cycles given a particular sorbent. Applying these metrics to the database of MOFs lead to the following insights: 1) start cold - the equilibrium uptake of CO2 diverges from that of N2 at lower temperatures, and 2) selectivity of CO2 vs other gases at any one point in the cycle does not matter - what matters is the relative change in uptake along the cycle.

cond-mat.mtrl-sci↗

arXiv2024

Real-time experiment-theory closed-loop interaction for autonomous materials science

Iterative cycles of theoretical prediction and experimental validation are the cornerstone of the modern scientific method. However, the proverbial "closing of the loop" in experiment-theory cycles in practice are usually ad hoc, often inherently difficult, or impractical to repeat on a systematic basis, beset by the scale or the time constraint of computation or the phenomena under study. Here, we demonstrate Autonomous MAterials Search Engine (AMASE), where we enlist robot science to perform self-driving continuous cyclical interaction of experiments and computational predictions for materials exploration. In particular, we have applied the AMASE formalism to the rapid mapping of a temperature-composition phase diagram, a fundamental task for the search and discovery of new materials. Thermal processing and experimental determination of compositional phase boundaries in thin films are autonomously interspersed with real-time updating of the phase diagram prediction through the minimization of Gibbs free energies. AMASE was able to accurately determine the eutectic phase diagram of the Sn-Bi binary thin-film system on the fly from a self-guided campaign covering just a small fraction of the entire composition - temperature phase space, translating to a 6-fold reduction in the number of necessary experiments. This study demonstrates for the first time the possibility of real-time, autonomous, and iterative interactions of experiments and theory carried out without any human intervention.

cond-mat.mtrl-sci↗

arXiv2024

Learning material synthesis-process-structure-property relationship by data fusion: Bayesian Coregionalization N-Dimensional Piecewise Function Learning

Autonomous materials research labs require the ability to combine and learn from diverse data streams. This is especially true for learning material synthesis-process-structure-property relationships, key to accelerating materials optimization and discovery as well as accelerating mechanistic understanding. We present the Synthesis-process-structure-property relAtionship coreGionalized lEarner (SAGE) algorithm. A fully Bayesian algorithm that uses multimodal coregionalization to merge knowledge across data sources to learn synthesis-process-structure-property relationships. SAGE outputs a probabilistic posterior for the relationships including the most likely relationships given the data.

cs.LG↗

arXiv2023

Human-In-the-Loop for Bayesian Autonomous Materials Phase Mapping

Autonomous experimentation (AE) combines machine learning and research hardware automation in a closed loop, guiding subsequent experiments toward user goals. As applied to materials research, AE can accelerate materials exploration, reducing time and cost compared to traditional Edisonian studies. Additionally, integrating knowledge from diverse sources including theory, simulations, literature, and domain experts can boost AE performance. Domain experts may provide unique knowledge addressing tasks that are difficult to automate. Here, we present a set of methods for integrating human input into an autonomous materials exploration campaign for composition-structure phase mapping. The methods are demonstrated on x-ray diffraction data collected from a thin film ternary combinatorial library. At any point during the campaign, the user can choose to provide input by indicating regions-of-interest, likely phase regions, and likely phase boundaries based on their prior knowledge (e.g., knowledge of the phase map of a similar material system), along with quantifying their certainty. The human input is integrated by defining a set of probabilistic priors over the phase map. Algorithm output is a probabilistic distribution over potential phase maps, given the data, model, and human input. We demonstrate a significant improvement in phase mapping performance given appropriate human input.

cond-mat.mtrl-sci↗

arXiv2023

Scalable Multi-Agent Lab Framework for Lab Optimization

Autonomous materials research systems allow scientists to fail smarter, learn faster, and spend less resources in their studies. As these systems grow in number, capability, and complexity, a new challenge arises - how will they work together across large facilities? We explore one solution to this question - a multi-agent laboratory control frame-work. We demonstrate this framework with an autonomous material science lab in mind - where information from diverse research campaigns can be combined to ad-dress the scientific question at hand. This framework can 1) account for realistic resource limits such as equipment use, 2) allow for machine learning agents with diverse learning capabilities and goals capable of running re-search campaigns, and 3) facilitate multi-agent collaborations and teams. The framework is dubbed the MULTI-agent auTonomous fAcilities - a Scalable frameworK aka MULTITASK. MULTITASK makes possible facility-wide simulations, including agent-instrument and agent-agent interactions. Through MULTITASK's modularity, real-world facilities can come on-line in phases, with simulated instruments gradually replaced by real-world instruments. We hope MULTITASK opens new areas of study in large-scale autonomous and semi-autonomous research campaigns and facilities.

cs.MA↗

arXiv2022

Reproducible Sorbent Materials Foundry for Carbon Capture at Scale

We envision an autonomous sorbent materials foundry (SMF) for rapidly evaluating materials for direct air capture of carbon dioxide (CO2), specifically targeting novel metal organic framework materials. Our proposed SMF is hierarchical, simultaneously addressing the most critical gaps in the inter-related space of sorbent material synthesis, processing, properties, and performance. The ability to collect these critical data streams in an agile, coordinated, and automated fashion will enable efficient end-to-end sorbent materials design through machine learning driven research framework.

cond-mat.mtrl-sci↗

arXiv2022

A Low-Cost Robot Science Kit for Education with Symbolic Regression for Hypothesis Discovery and Validation

The next generation of physical science involves robot scientists - autonomous physical science systems capable of experimental design, execution, and analysis in a closed loop. Such systems have shown real-world success for scientific exploration and discovery, including the first discovery of a best-in-class material. To build and use these systems, the next generation workforce requires expertise in diverse areas including ML, control systems, measurement science, materials synthesis, decision theory, among others. However, education is lagging. Educators need a low-cost, easy-to-use platform to teach the required skills. Industry can also use such a platform for developing and evaluating autonomous physical science methodologies. We present the next generation in science education, a kit for building a low-cost autonomous scientist. The kit was used during two courses at the University of Maryland to teach undergraduate and graduate students autonomous physical science. We discuss its use in the course and its greater capability to teach the dual tasks of autonomous model exploration, optimization, and determination, with an example of autonomous experimental "discovery" of the Henderson-Hasselbalch equation.

cond-mat.mtrl-sci↗

arXiv2022

Benchmarking Active Learning Strategies for Materials Optimization and Discovery

Autonomous physical science is revolutionizing materials science. In these systems, machine learning controls experiment design, execution, and analysis in a closed loop. Active learning, the machine learning field of optimal experiment design, selects each subsequent experiment to maximize knowledge toward the user goal. Autonomous system performance can be further improved with implementation of scientific machine learning, also known as inductive bias-engineered artificial intelligence, which folds prior knowledge of physical laws (e.g., Gibbs phase rule) into the algorithm. As the number, diversity, and uses for active learning strategies grow, there is an associated growing necessity for real-world reference datasets to benchmark strategies. We present a reference dataset and demonstrate its use to benchmark active learning strategies in the form of various acquisition functions. Active learning strategies are used to rapidly identify materials with optimal physical properties within a ternary materials system. The data is from an actual Fe-Co-Ni thin-film library and includes previously acquired experimental data for materials compositions, X-ray diffraction patterns, and two functional properties of magnetic coercivity and the Kerr rotation. Popular active learning methods along with a recent scientific active learning method are benchmarked for their materials optimization performance. We discuss the relationship between algorithm performance, materials search space complexity, and the incorporation of prior knowledge.

cond-mat.mtrl-sci↗

arXiv2022

On-the-fly Autonomous Control of Neutron Diffraction via Physics-Informed Bayesian Active Learning

Neutron scattering is a unique and versatile characterization technique for probing the magnetic structure and dynamics of materials. However, instruments at neutron scattering facilities in the world is limited, and instruments at such facilities are perennially oversubscribed. We demonstrate a significant reduction in experimental time required for neutron diffraction experiments by implementation of autonomous navigation of measurement parameter space through machine learning. Prior scientific knowledge and Bayesian active learning are used to dynamically steer the sequence of measurements. We developed the autonomous neutron diffraction explorer (ANDiE) and used it to determine the magnetic order of MnO and Fe1.09Te. ANDiE can determine the Neel temperature of the materials with 5-fold enhancement in efficiency and correctly identify the transition dynamics via physics-informed Bayesian inference. ANDiE's active learning approach is broadly applicable to a variety of neutron-based experiments and can open the door for neutron scattering as a tool of accelerated materials discovery.

cond-mat.mtrl-sci↗

arXiv2022

Physics in the Machine: Integrating Physical Knowledge in Autonomous Phase-Mapping

Application of artificial intelligence (AI), and more specifically machine learning, to the physical sciences has expanded significantly over the past decades. In particular, science-informed AI, also known as scientific AI or inductive bias AI, has grown from a focus on data analysis to now controlling experiment design, simulation, execution and analysis in closed-loop autonomous systems. The CAMEO (closed-loop autonomous materials exploration and optimization) algorithm employs scientific AI to address two tasks: learning a material system's composition-structure relationship and identifying materials compositions with optimal functional properties. By integrating these, accelerated materials screening across compositional phase diagrams was demonstrated, resulting in the discovery of a best-in-class phase change memory material. Key to this success is the ability to guide subsequent measurements to maximize knowledge of the composition-structure relationship, or phase map. In this work we investigate the benefits of incorporating varying levels of prior physical knowledge into CAMEO's autonomous phase-mapping. This includes the use of ab-initio phase boundary data from the AFLOW repositories, which has been shown to optimize CAMEO's search when used as a prior.

cond-mat.mtrl-sci↗

arXiv2021

Graph Neural Network Predictions of Metal Organic Framework CO2 Adsorption Properties

The increasing CO2 level is a critical concern and suitable materials are needed to capture such gases from the environment. While experimental and conventional computational methods are useful in finding such materials, they are usually slow and there is a need to expedite such processes. We use Atomistic Line Graph Neural Network (ALIGNN) method to predict CO2 adsorption in metal organic frameworks (MOF), which are known for their high functional tunability. We train ALIGNN models for hypothetical MOF (hMOF) database with 137953 MOFs with grand canonical Monte Carlo (GCMC) based CO2 adsorption isotherms. We develop high accuracy and fast models for pre-screening applications. We apply the trained model on CoREMOF database and computationally rank them for experimental synthesis. In addition to the CO2 adsorption isotherm, we also train models for electronic bandgaps, surface area, void fraction, lowest cavity diameter, and pore limiting diameter, and illustrate the strength and limitation of such graph neural network models. For a few candidate MOFs we carry out GCMC calculations to evaluate the deep-learning (DL) predictions.

cond-mat.mtrl-sci↗