The general trend of automation is currently increasing in life science laboratories. The samples to be examined show a high diversity in their structures and composition as well as the determination methods. Complex automation lines such as those used in classic industrial automation are not a suitable solution with respect to the required flexibility of the systems due to changing application requirements. Rather, full automation requires the connection of several different subsystems, including manual process steps by the laboratory staff. This requires suitable workflow management systems that enable the planning and execution of complex process steps. The integration of mobile robots for transportation tasks is currently an important development trend for realizing full automation in life science laboratories. The article “Workflow Management System for the Integration of Mobile Robots in Future Labs of Life Sciences” presents the development and application of a hierarchical workflow management system (HWMS) as a top-level process management and control system. This concept combines the typical hierarchical automation structure with novel approaches for the integration of transportation tasks with variable degrees of automation. The aim is to create a general-purpose workflow management system that can be used in different areas of the life sciences, regardless of the specific device components and applications used.

目前，生命科学实验室的自动化总体趋势正在增加。待检测的样品在结构和组成以及测定方法方面表现出高度的多样性。由于不断变化的应用要求，复杂的自动化生产线（例如用于传统工业自动化的生产线）对于系统所需的灵活性而言并不是合适的解决方案。相反，完全自动化需要连接几个不同的子系统，包括实验室工作人员的手动流程步骤。这需要合适的工作流管理系统来规划和执行复杂的流程步骤。移动机器人集成运输任务是目前生命科学实验室实现全自动化的重要发展趋势。“未来生命科学实验室移动机器人集成工作流管理系统”一文介绍了分层工作流管理系统（HWMS）作为顶层流程管理和控制系统的开发和应用。这个概念将典型的分层自动化结构与用于集成具有不同自动化程度的运输任务的新方法相结合。目的是创建一个通用的工作流管理系统，可用于生命科学的不同领域，而不管使用的特定设备组件和应用程序。这个概念将典型的分层自动化结构与用于集成具有不同自动化程度的运输任务的新方法相结合。目的是创建一个通用的工作流管理系统，可用于生命科学的不同领域，而不管使用的特定设备组件和应用程序。这个概念将典型的分层自动化结构与用于集成具有不同自动化程度的运输任务的新方法相结合。目的是创建一个通用的工作流管理系统，可用于生命科学的不同领域，而不管使用的特定设备组件和应用程序。