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Researchers at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill are developing an AI-powered robot named Fetch that can perform basic tasks in a laboratory setting. Fetch, which resembles a mobile Roomba with a robotic arm, is the product of collaboration between UNC’s Chemistry and Computer Science departments. Graduate student Angelos Angelopoulos and Professor Ron Alterovitz are among the key figures behind the project. Originally designed for warehouse logistics, Fetch has been reprogrammed to navigate lab environments, collect chemical samples, and interact with lab instruments, such as gas chromatography (GC) tubes.
Fetch features a six-motor arm, a height-adjustable torso, and a 3D-sensing camera that acts as its “head,” enabling it to identify people and navigate safely in shared spaces. Using coded instructions and sensor input, it calculates precise motor actions to complete tasks without human intervention. While it currently handles a limited range of activities, the team is working to expand its capabilities so it can assist with a broader array of lab tasks.
The project began after Professor Alterovitz presented on autonomous robotics at a conference, where he connected with Chemistry Professor Jim Cahoon. Their collaboration was kickstarted by a $500,000, two-year grant from UNC’s Creativity Hub, which supports interdisciplinary innovation. As that funding period comes to a close, the team is now seeking additional federal support to continue developing the project.
Looking ahead, the researchers aim to build a reusable robotics framework that could be adapted to other systems beyond Fetch. Angelopoulos says they are exploring emerging technologies to enhance the robot’s precision and functionality. Similar AI robotics initiatives are also underway at other North Carolina institutions, including North Carolina A&T, NC State, and Duke University, which are applying robots in areas from food delivery to botanical research and rapid prototyping.
