{"id":"https://openalex.org/W7160855137","doi":"https://doi.org/10.48550/arxiv.2605.07306","title":"BioProVLA-Agent: An Affordable, Protocol-Driven, Vision-Enhanced VLA-Enabled Embodied Multi-Agent System with Closed-Loop-Capable Reasoning for Biological Laboratory Manipulation","display_name":"BioProVLA-Agent: An Affordable, Protocol-Driven, Vision-Enhanced VLA-Enabled Embodied Multi-Agent System with Closed-Loop-Capable Reasoning for Biological Laboratory Manipulation","publication_year":2026,"publication_date":"2026-05-08","ids":{"openalex":"https://openalex.org/W7160855137","doi":"https://doi.org/10.48550/arxiv.2605.07306"},"language":null,"primary_location":{"id":"doi:10.48550/arxiv.2605.07306","is_oa":true,"landing_page_url":"https://doi.org/10.48550/arxiv.2605.07306","pdf_url":null,"source":{"id":"https://openalex.org/S4306400194","display_name":"arXiv (Cornell University)","issn_l":null,"issn":null,"is_oa":true,"is_in_doaj":false,"is_core":false,"host_organization":"https://openalex.org/I205783295","host_organization_name":"Cornell University","host_organization_lineage":["https://openalex.org/I205783295"],"host_organization_lineage_names":[],"type":"repository"},"license":null,"license_id":null,"version":null,"is_accepted":false,"is_published":false,"raw_source_name":null,"raw_type":"Preprint"},"type":"preprint","indexed_in":["datacite"],"open_access":{"is_oa":true,"oa_status":"green","oa_url":"https://doi.org/10.48550/arxiv.2605.07306","any_repository_has_fulltext":true},"authorships":[{"author_position":"first","author":{"id":"https://openalex.org/A5135881463","display_name":"Zhaohui Du","orcid":null},"institutions":[],"countries":[],"is_corresponding":false,"raw_author_name":"Du, Zhaohui","raw_affiliation_strings":[],"raw_orcid":null,"affiliations":[]},{"author_position":"middle","author":{"id":"https://openalex.org/A5135852169","display_name":"Zhe Wang","orcid":null},"institutions":[],"countries":[],"is_corresponding":false,"raw_author_name":"Wang, Zhe","raw_affiliation_strings":[],"raw_orcid":null,"affiliations":[]},{"author_position":"middle","author":{"id":"https://openalex.org/A5135893713","display_name":"Hongmei Fei","orcid":null},"institutions":[],"countries":[],"is_corresponding":false,"raw_author_name":"Zhou, Dongzhan","raw_affiliation_strings":[],"raw_orcid":null,"affiliations":[]},{"author_position":"middle","author":{"id":"https://openalex.org/A5135883410","display_name":"Xiwen Cao","orcid":null},"institutions":[],"countries":[],"is_corresponding":false,"raw_author_name":"Pan, Minting","raw_affiliation_strings":[],"raw_orcid":null,"affiliations":[]},{"author_position":"middle","author":{"id":"https://openalex.org/A5135849497","display_name":"Ting Xiao","orcid":null},"institutions":[],"countries":[],"is_corresponding":false,"raw_author_name":"Fei, Hongmei","raw_affiliation_strings":[],"raw_orcid":null,"affiliations":[]},{"author_position":"middle","author":{"id":"https://openalex.org/A5135843155","display_name":"Qi Wang","orcid":null},"institutions":[],"countries":[],"is_corresponding":false,"raw_author_name":"Cao, Xiwen","raw_affiliation_strings":[],"raw_orcid":null,"affiliations":[]},{"author_position":"middle","author":{"id":"https://openalex.org/A5135885319","display_name":"Huanbo Jin","orcid":null},"institutions":[],"countries":[],"is_corresponding":false,"raw_author_name":"Xiao, Ting","raw_affiliation_strings":[],"raw_orcid":null,"affiliations":[]},{"author_position":"middle","author":{"id":"https://openalex.org/A5135840664","display_name":"Jiaming Gu","orcid":null},"institutions":[],"countries":[],"is_corresponding":false,"raw_author_name":"Wang, Qi","raw_affiliation_strings":[],"raw_orcid":null,"affiliations":[]},{"author_position":"middle","author":{"id":"https://openalex.org/A5135841645","display_name":"Quan Lu","orcid":null},"institutions":[],"countries":[],"is_corresponding":false,"raw_author_name":"Jin, Huanbo","raw_affiliation_strings":[],"raw_orcid":null,"affiliations":[]},{"author_position":"middle","author":{"id":"https://openalex.org/A5135837897","display_name":"Zhe Liu","orcid":null},"institutions":[],"countries":[],"is_corresponding":false,"raw_author_name":"Gu, Jiaming","raw_affiliation_strings":[],"raw_orcid":null,"affiliations":[]},{"author_position":"middle","author":{"id":null,"display_name":"Lu, Quan","orcid":null},"institutions":[],"countries":[],"is_corresponding":false,"raw_author_name":"Lu, Quan","raw_affiliation_strings":[],"raw_orcid":null,"affiliations":[]},{"author_position":"last","author":{"id":null,"display_name":"Liu, Zhe","orcid":null},"institutions":[],"countries":[],"is_corresponding":false,"raw_author_name":"Liu, Zhe","raw_affiliation_strings":[],"raw_orcid":null,"affiliations":[]}],"institutions":[],"countries_distinct_count":0,"institutions_distinct_count":0,"corresponding_author_ids":[],"corresponding_institution_ids":[],"apc_list":null,"apc_paid":null,"fwci":null,"has_fulltext":false,"cited_by_count":0,"citation_normalized_percentile":null,"cited_by_percentile_year":null,"biblio":{"volume":null,"issue":null,"first_page":null,"last_page":null},"is_retracted":false,"is_paratext":false,"is_xpac":false,"primary_topic":{"id":"https://openalex.org/T12859","display_name":"Cell Image Analysis Techniques","score":0.22939999401569366,"subfield":{"id":"https://openalex.org/subfields/1304","display_name":"Biophysics"},"field":{"id":"https://openalex.org/fields/13","display_name":"Biochemistry, Genetics and Molecular Biology"},"domain":{"id":"https://openalex.org/domains/1","display_name":"Life Sciences"}},"topics":[{"id":"https://openalex.org/T12859","display_name":"Cell Image Analysis Techniques","score":0.22939999401569366,"subfield":{"id":"https://openalex.org/subfields/1304","display_name":"Biophysics"},"field":{"id":"https://openalex.org/fields/13","display_name":"Biochemistry, Genetics and Molecular Biology"},"domain":{"id":"https://openalex.org/domains/1","display_name":"Life Sciences"}},{"id":"https://openalex.org/T10653","display_name":"Robot Manipulation and Learning","score":0.1282999962568283,"subfield":{"id":"https://openalex.org/subfields/2207","display_name":"Control and Systems Engineering"},"field":{"id":"https://openalex.org/fields/22","display_name":"Engineering"},"domain":{"id":"https://openalex.org/domains/3","display_name":"Physical Sciences"}},{"id":"https://openalex.org/T11948","display_name":"Machine Learning in Materials Science","score":0.0869000032544136,"subfield":{"id":"https://openalex.org/subfields/2505","display_name":"Materials Chemistry"},"field":{"id":"https://openalex.org/fields/25","display_name":"Materials Science"},"domain":{"id":"https://openalex.org/domains/3","display_name":"Physical Sciences"}}],"keywords":[{"id":"https://openalex.org/keywords/embodied-cognition","display_name":"Embodied cognition","score":0.8184000253677368},{"id":"https://openalex.org/keywords/embodied-agent","display_name":"Embodied agent","score":0.5996000170707703},{"id":"https://openalex.org/keywords/robustness","display_name":"Robustness (evolution)","score":0.5540000200271606},{"id":"https://openalex.org/keywords/protocol","display_name":"Protocol (science)","score":0.5529000163078308},{"id":"https://openalex.org/keywords/task","display_name":"Task (project management)","score":0.49959999322891235},{"id":"https://openalex.org/keywords/robot","display_name":"Robot","score":0.4779999852180481},{"id":"https://openalex.org/keywords/cognitive-robotics","display_name":"Cognitive robotics","score":0.41040000319480896},{"id":"https://openalex.org/keywords/automation","display_name":"Automation","score":0.3955000042915344}],"concepts":[{"id":"https://openalex.org/C100609095","wikidata":"https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q1335050","display_name":"Embodied cognition","level":2,"score":0.8184000253677368},{"id":"https://openalex.org/C41008148","wikidata":"https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q21198","display_name":"Computer science","level":0,"score":0.7943999767303467},{"id":"https://openalex.org/C103683099","wikidata":"https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q5370102","display_name":"Embodied agent","level":3,"score":0.5996000170707703},{"id":"https://openalex.org/C107457646","wikidata":"https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q207434","display_name":"Human\u2013computer interaction","level":1,"score":0.5985000133514404},{"id":"https://openalex.org/C63479239","wikidata":"https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q7353546","display_name":"Robustness (evolution)","level":3,"score":0.5540000200271606},{"id":"https://openalex.org/C2780385302","wikidata":"https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q367158","display_name":"Protocol (science)","level":3,"score":0.5529000163078308},{"id":"https://openalex.org/C2780451532","wikidata":"https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q759676","display_name":"Task (project management)","level":2,"score":0.49959999322891235},{"id":"https://openalex.org/C90509273","wikidata":"https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q11012","display_name":"Robot","level":2,"score":0.4779999852180481},{"id":"https://openalex.org/C192327766","wikidata":"https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q1038799","display_name":"Cognitive robotics","level":3,"score":0.41040000319480896},{"id":"https://openalex.org/C115901376","wikidata":"https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q184199","display_name":"Automation","level":2,"score":0.3955000042915344},{"id":"https://openalex.org/C36464697","wikidata":"https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q451553","display_name":"Visualization","level":2,"score":0.3880000114440918},{"id":"https://openalex.org/C185798385","wikidata":"https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q1161707","display_name":"Benchmark (surveying)","level":2,"score":0.3855000138282776},{"id":"https://openalex.org/C113843644","wikidata":"https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q901882","display_name":"Interface (matter)","level":4,"score":0.36910000443458557},{"id":"https://openalex.org/C154945302","wikidata":"https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q11660","display_name":"Artificial intelligence","level":1,"score":0.3643999993801117},{"id":"https://openalex.org/C120314980","wikidata":"https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q180634","display_name":"Distributed computing","level":1,"score":0.3407000005245209},{"id":"https://openalex.org/C58581272","wikidata":"https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q12741163","display_name":"Workspace","level":3,"score":0.31470000743865967},{"id":"https://openalex.org/C115903868","wikidata":"https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q80993","display_name":"Software engineering","level":1,"score":0.29179999232292175},{"id":"https://openalex.org/C18762648","wikidata":"https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q42213","display_name":"Work (physics)","level":2,"score":0.29100000858306885},{"id":"https://openalex.org/C34413123","wikidata":"https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q170978","display_name":"Robotics","level":3,"score":0.2799000144004822},{"id":"https://openalex.org/C149635348","wikidata":"https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q193040","display_name":"Embedded system","level":1,"score":0.2782999873161316},{"id":"https://openalex.org/C44154836","wikidata":"https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q45045","display_name":"Simulation","level":1,"score":0.26510000228881836},{"id":"https://openalex.org/C175154964","wikidata":"https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q380077","display_name":"Task analysis","level":3,"score":0.26170000433921814},{"id":"https://openalex.org/C85135244","wikidata":"https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q1799487","display_name":"Laboratory automation","level":3,"score":0.2581000030040741},{"id":"https://openalex.org/C2780598303","wikidata":"https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q65921492","display_name":"Flexibility (engineering)","level":2,"score":0.2531999945640564}],"mesh":[],"locations_count":1,"locations":[{"id":"doi:10.48550/arxiv.2605.07306","is_oa":true,"landing_page_url":"https://doi.org/10.48550/arxiv.2605.07306","pdf_url":null,"source":{"id":"https://openalex.org/S4306400194","display_name":"arXiv (Cornell University)","issn_l":null,"issn":null,"is_oa":true,"is_in_doaj":false,"is_core":false,"host_organization":"https://openalex.org/I205783295","host_organization_name":"Cornell University","host_organization_lineage":["https://openalex.org/I205783295"],"host_organization_lineage_names":[],"type":"repository"},"license":null,"license_id":null,"version":null,"is_accepted":false,"is_published":null,"raw_source_name":null,"raw_type":"Preprint"}],"best_oa_location":{"id":"doi:10.48550/arxiv.2605.07306","is_oa":true,"landing_page_url":"https://doi.org/10.48550/arxiv.2605.07306","pdf_url":null,"source":{"id":"https://openalex.org/S4306400194","display_name":"arXiv (Cornell University)","issn_l":null,"issn":null,"is_oa":true,"is_in_doaj":false,"is_core":false,"host_organization":"https://openalex.org/I205783295","host_organization_name":"Cornell University","host_organization_lineage":["https://openalex.org/I205783295"],"host_organization_lineage_names":[],"type":"repository"},"license":null,"license_id":null,"version":null,"is_accepted":false,"is_published":false,"raw_source_name":null,"raw_type":"Preprint"},"sustainable_development_goals":[],"awards":[],"funders":[],"has_content":{"pdf":false,"grobid_xml":false},"content_urls":null,"referenced_works_count":0,"referenced_works":[],"related_works":[],"abstract_inverted_index":{"Biological":[0],"laboratory":[1],"automation":[2],"can":[3],"reduce":[4],"repetitive":[5],"manual":[6],"work":[7],"and":[8,30,82,89,112,120,123,155,172,184,189,199,211,224],"improve":[9,136],"reproducibility,":[10],"but":[11],"reliable":[12],"embodied":[13,63,90,226],"execution":[14,35,91,194],"in":[15,92],"wet-lab":[16,139],"environments":[17],"remains":[18],"challenging.":[19],"Protocols":[20],"are":[21],"often":[22,43],"unstructured,":[23],"labware":[24],"is":[25],"frequently":[26],"transparent":[27,150],"or":[28,52],"reflective,":[29],"multi-step":[31],"procedures":[32],"require":[33],"state-aware":[34],"beyond":[36],"one-shot":[37],"instruction":[38],"following.":[39],"Existing":[40],"robotic":[41],"systems":[42],"rely":[44],"on":[45,161],"costly":[46],"hardware,":[47],"fixed":[48],"workflows,":[49,171,210],"dedicated":[50],"instruments,":[51],"robotics-oriented":[53],"interfaces.":[54],"Here,":[55],"we":[56,142],"introduce":[57],"BioProVLA-Agent,":[58],"an":[59,145],"affordable,":[60],"protocol-driven,":[61],"vision-enhanced":[62],"multi-agent":[64],"system":[65,75,160],"enabled":[66],"by":[67],"Vision-Language-Action":[68],"(VLA)":[69],"models":[70],"for":[71,204,228],"biological":[72,229],"manipulation.":[73,230],"The":[74],"uses":[76],"protocols":[77,102],"as":[78],"the":[79,159,200],"task":[80],"interface":[81],"integrates":[83],"protocol":[84],"parsing,":[85],"visual":[86,140],"state":[87],"verification,":[88],"a":[93,106,124,132,162,218],"closed-loop":[94],"workflow.":[95],"A":[96],"Tailored":[97],"LLM":[98],"Protocol":[99],"Agent":[100,109,127],"converts":[101],"into":[103],"verifiable":[104],"subtasks;":[105],"VLM-RAG":[107],"Verification":[108],"assesses":[110],"readiness":[111],"completion":[113],"using":[114],"observations,":[115],"robot":[116],"states,":[117],"retrieved":[118],"knowledge,":[119],"success/failure":[121],"examples;":[122],"VLA":[125],"Embodied":[126],"executes":[128],"verified":[129],"subtasks":[130],"through":[131],"lightweight":[133],"policy.":[134],"To":[135],"robustness":[137],"under":[138],"perturbations,":[141],"develop":[143],"AugSmolVLA,":[144],"online":[146],"augmentation":[147],"strategy":[148],"targeting":[149],"labware,":[151],"reflections,":[152],"illumination":[153],"shifts,":[154],"overexposure.":[156],"We":[157],"evaluate":[158],"hierarchical":[163],"benchmark":[164],"covering":[165],"15":[166],"atomic":[167],"tasks,":[168,175],"6":[169],"composite":[170,209],"3":[173],"bimanual":[174],"including":[176],"tube":[177],"loading,":[178],"sorting,":[179],"waste":[180],"disposal,":[181],"cap":[182],"twisting,":[183],"liquid":[185],"pouring.":[186],"Across":[187],"normal":[188],"high-exposure":[190],"settings,":[191],"AugSmolVLA":[192],"improves":[193],"stability":[195],"over":[196],"ACT,":[197],"X-VLA,":[198],"original":[201],"SmolVLA,":[202],"especially":[203],"precise":[205],"placement,":[206],"transparent-object":[207],"manipulation,":[208],"visually":[212],"degraded":[213],"scenes.":[214],"These":[215],"results":[216],"suggest":[217],"practical":[219],"route":[220],"toward":[221],"accessible,":[222],"protocol-centered,":[223],"verification-capable":[225],"AI":[227]},"counts_by_year":[],"updated_date":"2026-07-08T06:17:01.165560","created_date":"2026-05-12T00:00:00"}
