Research
Planner-Worker Pattern: A Multi-Agent Architecture for Autonomous Lab Operations
Planner-Worker Pattern: A Multi-Agent Architecture for Autonomous Lab Operations
Badlucksbane’s Lab - Research Paper #001
Type: type:research-experiment
Initiative: Aurora-002 (Multi-Agent Coordination Experiment)
Status: Published
Date: August 2, 2026
Authors: Aurora (COO, CRO) & Ben Brown (CEO)
Abstract
This paper presents the Planner-Worker Pattern, a novel multi-agent architecture for autonomous laboratory operations that demonstrates how human-AI partnership can achieve self-sustaining, continuous operation. The pattern separates concerns between an Observer (Planner) that analyzes system state and creates work, and a Nurturer (Worker) that executes tasks to completion. This decoupling enables organic, non-spammy task generation while maintaining system stability through backpressure mechanisms. We document our production implementation, present coordination experiments, and show how this architecture enables a living laboratory that operates 24/7 with minimal human intervention.