Figure 8. The previously described system is extended to automate the mixing of hydrogel solutions, creating a closed loop between the digital and physical system.

(A and B) Human researchers work to define the goals of the system and feed this information to the digital system (A), which then (B) draws insights from gathered experimental data and selects future experiments.

(C) The digital system controls the mixing of hydrogel solutions through an automated mill in the physical system, which feeds mixed materials to the additive manufacturing mechanism. The physical system runs through a routine of mixing materials, printing geometries, testing geometries, and self-cleaning between successive experiments and feeds physical data back to the digital system.