Photos: US’ lab ‘robot chef’ speeds up superconducting ‘recipes’ for quantum computers

Researchers at the Department of Energy’s Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory have developed an advanced robotic cluster tool, nicknamed the “Robot Pizza Chef,” to accelerate the fabrication of superconducting qubits and other quantum components. This robotic system automates the precise layering of atom-thin materials on 8-inch wafers within a cleanroom environment, using a central robotic arm to shuttle wafers between workstations. The process occurs inside a closed vacuum system to prevent contamination, ensuring the production of more stable and reliable quantum components than traditional manual methods. The robotic tool integrates sensors such as lasers, X-rays, and infrared light to detect material defects in real time, allowing researchers to halt flawed production early and improve efficiency. It also collects detailed fabrication data linked to qubit performance, enabling artificial intelligence to analyze and optimize material “recipes” for superconducting qubits and sensors. Unlike fixed industrial robots, this system is designed for experimental flexibility, supporting the testing of various materials like hafnium to study their superconducting and magnetic