Optics is foundational to research in many areas of science and engineering, including nanophotonics, quantum information, materials science, biomedical imaging, and metrology. However, the design, assembly, and alignment of optical experiments remain predominantly manual, limiting throughput and reproducibility. Automating such experiments is challenging due to the strict, non-negotiable precision requirements and the diversity of optical configurations found in typical laboratories. Here, we introduce a platform that integrates generative artificial intelligence, computer vision, and robotics to automate free-space optical experiments. The platform translates user-defined goals into valid optical configurations, assembles them using a robotic arm, and performs micrometer-scale fine alignment using a robot-deployable tool. It then executes a range of automated measurements, including beam characterization, polarization mapping, and spectroscopy, with consistency surpassing that of human operators. This work demonstrates the first flexible, AI-driven automation platform for optics, offering a path towards remote operation, cloud labs, and high-throughput discovery in the optical sciences.

翻译：光学是许多科学与工程领域研究的基础，包括纳米光子学、量子信息、材料科学、生物医学成像和计量学。然而，光学实验的设计、组装与对准仍主要依赖人工操作，这限制了实验通量和可重复性。由于光学实验对精度要求极为严格且不可妥协，且典型实验室中存在多样化的光学配置，实现此类实验的自动化极具挑战性。本文介绍了一个集成生成式人工智能、计算机视觉与机器人技术的平台，旨在实现自由空间光学实验的自动化。该平台将用户定义的目标转化为有效的光学配置，利用机械臂进行组装，并通过机器人可部署工具执行微米级精细对准。随后，平台执行一系列自动化测量，包括光束表征、偏振映射和光谱分析，其一致性超越人工操作者。此项工作展示了首个灵活、由人工智能驱动的光学自动化平台，为光学科学中的远程操作、云实验室及高通量发现提供了可行路径。