A robotic arm is providing a helping hand for USDA researchers doing cellulosic ethanol research.

The one-armed robot is helping scientists with the Agricultural Research Service in Peoria, Illinois speed studies aimed at harnessing the power of proteins for industrial uses, such as making fuel ethanol from fibrous corn stover.

According to an ARS article, the robotic system can carry out tasks hundreds—or even thousands—of times faster than a human could.

Of particular interest is using the robotic system to genetically modify new strains of yeast that can metabolize sugars locked up within corn fiber—something these microbial workhorses have so far failed to do.