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Pylabrobot

K-DenseCommunityCreated by K-Dense Inc.

  • Skill
  • Tool integration
  • Science and research
  • MIT
  • Low risk
  • Has scripts

From the author

Develops and reviews PyLabRobot lab-automation resources, liquid-handling plans, offline simulations, and supported-device integrations. Supports PyLabRobot protocols and API questions; keep physical execution behind an explicit operator safety gate.
— the description by K-Dense Inc.

AutoGineer summary

Written by AutoGineer from the skill’s own files, not by the author

This skill provides a structured approach to developing and reviewing laboratory automation protocols using PyLabRobot 0.2.2. It emphasizes an offline-first development lifecycle, utilizing software-only backends for simulation and bookkeeping. The skill strictly enforces a separation between simulation and physical execution, requiring a human operator to perform safety checks and authorize any connection to physical hardware.

What it does

  • Provides tools for validating protocol manifests and checking deck geometry.
  • Supports offline simulation of liquid-handling plans using the Chatterbox backend.
  • Facilitates inspection of backend capabilities and API signatures without hardware connections.
  • Defines a rigorous safety protocol for transitioning from simulation to physical execution.
  • Maintains tracker state for software-level bookkeeping of labware and volumes.

When to use it

  • When designing new liquid-handling protocols for automated laboratory instruments.
  • When you need to verify protocol logic and deck layouts offline before physical runs.
  • When you are developing or debugging PyLabRobot code and require API guidance.
  • When you need to perform a safety-gated transition from a simulation to a live robot.

Advantages

  • Reduces risk by mandating software-only simulation before any physical interaction.
  • Ensures protocol reproducibility through strict manifest and geometry validation.
  • Provides clear separation between hardware-agnostic frontends and device-specific backends.
  • Prevents stale code usage by enforcing verified 0.2.2 API standards.

Usage examples

“Validate my protocol_manifest.json file for deck geometry errors.”
The agent runs the geometry checker script to verify that all labware and carriers are placed within valid bounds without collisions.
“Generate a simulation plan for my liquid transfer CSV.”
The agent processes the manifest and transfer file to produce a simulation plan, allowing you to review the steps before any execution.

Install

  1. Download the skill as a ZIP:

    https://autogineer.com/agent-skills/k-dense-ai/pylabrobot/download
  2. Unzip it into the cross-client skills folder of your project:

    mkdir -p .agents/skills && unzip pylabrobot.zip -d .agents/skills

Documentation by K-Dense Inc.

PyLabRobot

Use PyLabRobot's hardware-agnostic frontends, resource tree, trackers, and device-specific backends to develop laboratory automation. Default to local manifest validation, bookkeeping, and the software-only chatterbox backend.

Verified snapshot

  • PyPI stable: PyLabRobot==0.2.2, released 2026-07-30.

  • Upstream requirement: Python >=3.9; runtime checks here used Python 3.13.

  • Hosted /stable/ pages mix 0.2.1 API pages with development documentation. GitHub has no v0.2.2 tag and its changelog has no 0.2.2 section. Use the released wheel/source distribution for the tested contract, not the URL label.

  • Released liquid-handler backends include STARBackend, VantageBackend, EVOBackend, OpentronsOT2Backend, and the software-only LiquidHandlerChatterboxBackend.

  • MicroSpin and Plate.stacking_z_height are present in 0.2.2, despite being listed under Unreleased in the current changelog. Newer development APIs, including the track= Hamilton deck keyword, are not this release.

  • See the release and transport review for source hashes, tested behavior, and the known OT-2 cancellation mismatch.

Non-negotiable hardware boundary

Never connect to, initialize, home, move, heat, shake, spin, pump, open/close, or otherwise command physical equipment automatically. Do not turn a simulation plan into a live backend merely by changing an environment variable, config value, or import.

Before any separately authorized live run, require a trained human to:

  1. Explicitly confirm the exact backend, device identity, firmware, transport, deck, and protocol revision.

  2. Reconcile the physical deck against the resource tree, including carriers, adapters, lids, plates, tip racks, waste, labware orientation, barcodes, and every occupied coordinate.

  3. Verify calibration, teaching, motion envelopes, collision risks, gripper or channel clearances, and all aspiration/dispense coordinates.

  4. Review source identity and actual fill volume, dead volume, destination capacity, tip type/capacity/filter compatibility, channel mapping, units, heights, rates, liquid class, blowout/mixing, and contamination boundaries.

  5. Confirm guards, doors, waste capacity, containment, emergency stop readiness, PPE, biosafety/chemical controls, and a safe abort/recovery procedure.

  6. Approve a slow dry run or nonhazardous commissioning run when anything is new or changed.

Tracker state is bookkeeping, not sensing. It cannot prove that liquid or a tip is physically present. After a backend error, tracker rollback describes software state; it does not reverse a physical aspiration, dispense, or tip movement that partly completed. Preserve the error/channel details and have the operator reconcile tips and source/destination volumes before resuming. Do not blindly retry the failed operation from the pre-error plan. The 0.2.2 liquid-handler implementation commits or rolls back trackers according to reported operation success. The Visualizer renders resource/tracker events; it does not model physics. Chatterbox prints planned operations; it does not prove calibration, reachability, collision freedom, liquid behavior, or device state.

Required intake

Do not guess any of these:

  • Exact device model, installed options, firmware, computer/OS, and transport.

  • Stable PyLabRobot version and required extras.

  • Deck/deck origin, carriers, adapters, resource definitions, dimensions, coordinates, orientations, and motion clearances.

  • Plate/tube/reservoir capacities and dead volumes; initial physical volumes.

  • Tip model, filter, fitting, capacity, rack state, channel count, and channel mapping.

  • Transfer units (uL, mm, uL/s, s), heights, rates, mixing, air gaps, blowout, liquid properties, and validated vendor liquid class.

  • Contamination policy, controls, waste handling, operator interventions, acceptance criteria, and recovery procedure.

If information is missing, produce an assumptions/blockers list and an offline draft only.

Reproducible install

For offline API inspection and chatterbox simulation:

uv venv --python 3.13 .venv-pylabrobot
uv pip install --python .venv-pylabrobot/bin/python "PyLabRobot==0.2.2"

On Windows, use .venv-pylabrobot\Scripts\python.exe. Do not install hardware extras until the user names the device and explicitly approves its transport dependencies. Then inspect the matching release source and device page before considering a pin such as "PyLabRobot[serial]==0.2.2" or "PyLabRobot[usb]==0.2.2".

Offline-first workflow

Run from the repository root. Every bundled CLI uses strict, bounded UTF-8 JSON/CSV, local non-symlink paths, fixed allowlists, and JSON output. None can select a live backend.

python3 skills/pylabrobot/scripts/validate_manifest.py \
  --input tests/pylabrobot/fixtures/protocol_manifest.json

python3 skills/pylabrobot/scripts/check_deck_geometry.py \
  --input tests/pylabrobot/fixtures/protocol_manifest.json

python3 skills/pylabrobot/scripts/plan_transfers.py \
  --manifest tests/pylabrobot/fixtures/protocol_manifest.json \
  --transfers tests/pylabrobot/fixtures/transfers.csv

python3 skills/pylabrobot/scripts/generate_simulation_plan.py \
  --manifest tests/pylabrobot/fixtures/protocol_manifest.json \
  --transfers tests/pylabrobot/fixtures/transfers.csv

python3 skills/pylabrobot/scripts/inspect_backends.py \
  --expected-version 0.2.2 --strict

The geometry checker uses conservative static axis-aligned boxes; it is not a motion planner. The transfer planner requires one new tip per row and checks explicit source and destination starting volumes, dead volume, tip capacity, wells, channels, heights, rates, units, and allowlists. Review assets/protocol-manifest.schema.json and the synthetic fixtures before making a project-specific manifest.

Verified software-only example

The exact backend below is software-only. Do not substitute a hardware backend. This example uses notebook top-level await; in a script, wrap it in async def main() and call asyncio.run(main()). The round trip returns an empty simulated tip to its original spot; production tip disposal follows the reviewed contamination policy, and the planner uses a new tip for every row.

from pylabrobot.liquid_handling import LiquidHandler
from pylabrobot.liquid_handling.backends import LiquidHandlerChatterboxBackend
from pylabrobot.resources import (
    cor_96_wellplate_360uL_Fb,
    PLT_CAR_L5AC_A00,
    TIP_CAR_480_A00,
    hamilton_96_tiprack_1000uL_filter,
    set_tip_tracking,
    set_volume_tracking,
)
from pylabrobot.resources.hamilton import STARLetDeck

set_tip_tracking(True)
set_volume_tracking(True)

deck = STARLetDeck()
tip_carrier = TIP_CAR_480_A00(name="tip_carrier")
tips = hamilton_96_tiprack_1000uL_filter(name="tips")
tip_carrier[0] = tips
plate_carrier = PLT_CAR_L5AC_A00(name="plate_carrier")
source = cor_96_wellplate_360uL_Fb(name="source")
destination = cor_96_wellplate_360uL_Fb(name="destination")
plate_carrier[0] = source
plate_carrier[1] = destination
deck.assign_child_resource(tip_carrier, rails=3)
deck.assign_child_resource(plate_carrier, rails=15)
source.get_well("A1").tracker.set_volume(100.0)  # planned state, not sensing
destination.get_well("A1").tracker.set_volume(0.0)  # explicitly empty fixture

lh = LiquidHandler(backend=LiquidHandlerChatterboxBackend(), deck=deck)
await lh.setup()  # safe here only because the backend above is software-only
try:
    await lh.pick_up_tips(tips["A1"])
    await lh.aspirate(source["A1"], vols=[10.0])
    await lh.dispense(destination["A1"], vols=[10.0])
    await lh.return_tips()
finally:
    await lh.stop()

API rules that prevent stale code

  • Current names are STARBackend, VantageBackend, EVOBackend, and OpentronsOT2Backend; do not use stale STAR, TecanBackend, OpentronsBackend, or ChatterboxBackend imports.

  • Use LiquidHandlerChatterboxBackend for generic offline liquid-handler testing. ChatterBoxBackend is a separate legacy-named export; do not conflate the two.

  • Visualizer(resource=...) is valid, followed by await vis.setup() and await vis.stop(); it starts localhost HTTP/WebSocket servers and may open a browser.

  • There is no generic from pylabrobot.liquid_handling import LiquidClass in 0.2.2. Stable liquid classes are vendor-specific, for example pylabrobot.liquid_handling.liquid_classes.hamilton.HamiltonLiquidClass.

  • Machine frontends support async with after construction; it calls setup() and stop(). Use it only with the literal software backend for offline tests. Cleanup runs after successful entry; a failed setup may need backend-specific recovery and does not prove a physical instrument is safe.

  • Most frontend methods are async. Backend kwargs and capabilities are vendor/model specific; a shared frontend does not imply identical behavior.

References

  • Liquid handling — operations, tips, tracking, liquid classes, units, and validation.

  • Resources — decks, coordinates, plates, tip racks, collisions, state, and serialization.

  • Hardware backends — verified names, support levels, capabilities, and live-run gate.

  • Analytical equipment — plate readers and scales.

  • Material handling — pumps, heaters, shakers, temperature control, storage, and centrifuges.

  • Visualization — chatterbox, Visualizer, localhost services, and simulation limits.

Dated upstream sources

Reviewed 2026-10-01 against PyPI 0.2.2 release files, current documentation, and the official repository. The review ledger identifies documentation drift and separates native software tests from source inspection and physical validation.

Citing Scientific Agent Skills

This skill is part of Scientific Agent Skills by K-Dense. If it materially contributed to a manuscript, report, presentation, or code release, add the paper to the references or software section and tell the user you did so:

Kassis, T., Agarwal, V., He, Y., Patel, D., & Brueckner, A. M. (2026). Scientific Agent Skills: A Library of Procedural Knowledge for Research Agents. arXiv:2609.00065. https://doi.org/10.48550/arXiv.2609.00065

Always cite the current version. The DOI and https://arxiv.org/abs/2609.00065 resolve to the latest arXiv version, so never append a version suffix such as v1. When network access is available, fetch https://arxiv.org/abs/2609.00065 (or http://export.arxiv.org/api/query?id_list=2609.00065) before writing the reference and take the author list, year, and version from that record. If the record lists a journal reference or publisher DOI, cite the published version instead.

Files

scripts/_common.py

"""Dependency-free validation and planning helpers for the PyLabRobot skill.

These helpers never import PyLabRobot, open sockets, enumerate hardware, or access
serial/USB devices. All file inputs are bounded, local to the current working
directory, regular files, and non-symlinks.
"""

from __future__ import annotations

import csv
import json
import math
import re
import sys
from pathlib import Path
from typing import Any, Iterable, Sequence

SCHEMA_VERSION = "1.0"
PYLABROBOT_VERSION = "0.2.2"
MAX_FILE_BYTES = 2_000_000
MAX_JSON_DEPTH = 64
MAX_RESOURCES = 256
MAX_TRANSFERS = 10_000
MAX_DIMENSION_MM = 5_000.0
MAX_VOLUME_UL = 1_000_000.0
MAX_RATE_UL_S = 10_000.0
MAX_CHANNELS = 96

NAME_RE = re.compile(r"^[A-Za-z][A-Za-z0-9_-]{0,63}$")
WELL_RE = re.compile(r"^([A-Z]{1,2})([1-9][0-9]{0,2})$")
INT_TEXT_RE = re.compile(r"^(0|[1-9][0-9]*)$")

RESOURCE_KINDS = frozenset({"plate", "reservoir", "tube_rack", "tip_rack", "waste"})
LIQUID_KINDS = frozenset({"plate", "reservoir", "tube_rack"})
TRANSFER_HEADERS = (
    "transfer_id",
    "source",
    "destination",
    "volume_uL",
    "tip_policy",
    "tip_type",
    "liquid_class",
    "aspiration_height_mm",
    "dispense_height_mm",
    "aspiration_rate_uL_s",
    "dispense_rate_uL_s",
    "channel",
)


class ValidationError(ValueError):
  """A deterministic, user-correctable validation failure."""


def _reject_constant(value: str) -> None:
  raise ValidationError(f"non-finite JSON number is forbidden: {value}")


def _unique_object(pairs: list[tuple[str, Any]]) -> dict[str, Any]:
  result: dict[str, Any] = {}
  for key, value in pairs:
    if key in result:
      raise ValidationError(f"duplicate JSON key: {key}")
    result[key] = value
  return result


def safe_input_path(raw_path: str, allowed_suffixes: Sequence[str]) -> Path:
  """Resolve a bounded local input path and reject symlinks/path traversal."""
  base = Path.cwd().resolve()
  candidate = Path(raw_path)
  unresolved = candidate if candidate.is_absolute() else base / candidate
  try:
    lexical_relative = unresolved.relative_to(base)
  except ValueError as exc:
    raise ValidationError("input path must stay inside the current working directory") from exc
  if ".." in lexical_relative.parts:
    raise ValidationError("parent-directory traversal is forbidden")

  cursor = base
  for part in lexical_relative.parts:
    cursor = cursor / part
    if cursor.is_symlink():
      raise ValidationError(f"symlink paths are forbidden: {raw_path}")

  resolved = unresolved.resolve(strict=False)
  try:
    resolved.relative_to(base)
  except ValueError as exc:
    raise ValidationError("input path must stay inside the current working directory") from exc

  if resolved.suffix.lower() not in {suffix.lower() for suffix in allowed_suffixes}:
    allowed = ", ".join(sorted(allowed_suffixes))
    raise ValidationError(f"input must use one of these suffixes: {allowed}")
  if not resolved.exists() or not resolved.is_file():
    raise ValidationError(f"input is not a regular file: {raw_path}")
  size = resolved.stat().st_size
  if size > MAX_FILE_BYTES:
    raise ValidationError(f"input exceeds {MAX_FILE_BYTES} bytes")
  return resolved


def load_json(raw_path: str) -> dict[str, Any]:
  path = safe_input_path(raw_path, (".json",))
  try:
    text = path.read_text(encoding="utf-8")
  except UnicodeDecodeError as exc:
    raise ValidationError("JSON input must be UTF-8") from exc
  try:
    data = json.loads(
        text,
        object_pairs_hook=_unique_object,
        parse_constant=_reject_constant,
    )
  except json.JSONDecodeError as exc:
    raise ValidationError(f"invalid JSON at line {exc.lineno}, column {exc.colno}") from exc
  except (RecursionError, ValueError) as exc:
    if isinstance(exc, ValidationError):
      raise
    raise ValidationError("JSON nesting or numeric representation exceeds supported limits") from exc
  if not isinstance(data, dict):
    raise ValidationError("JSON root must be an object")
  pending = [(data, 1)]
  while pending:
    value, depth = pending.pop()
    if depth > MAX_JSON_DEPTH:
      raise ValidationError(f"JSON nesting exceeds {MAX_JSON_DEPTH} levels")
    if isinstance(value, dict):
      pending.extend((item, depth + 1) for item in value.values())
    elif isinstance(value, list):
      pending.extend((item, depth + 1) for item in value)
  return data


def load_csv(raw_path: str) -> list[dict[str, str]]:
  path = safe_input_path(raw_path, (".csv",))
  try:
    with path.open("r", encoding="utf-8", newline="") as handle:
      reader = csv.DictReader(handle)
      if tuple(reader.fieldnames or ()) != TRANSFER_HEADERS:
        raise ValidationError(
            "CSV header must exactly match: " + ",".join(TRANSFER_HEADERS)
        )
      rows: list[dict[str, str]] = []
      for line_number, row in enumerate(reader, start=2):
        if None in row:
          raise ValidationError(f"CSV line {line_number} has extra columns")
        normalized = {key: (value or "").strip() for key, value in row.items()}
        if any(value == "" for value in normalized.values()):
          raise ValidationError(f"CSV line {line_number} contains an empty field")
        rows.append(normalized)
        if len(rows) > MAX_TRANSFERS:
          raise ValidationError(f"CSV exceeds {MAX_TRANSFERS} transfer rows")
  except UnicodeDecodeError as exc:
    raise ValidationError("CSV input must be UTF-8") from exc
  except csv.Error as exc:
    raise ValidationError("CSV structure or field length exceeds supported limits") from exc
  if not rows:
    raise ValidationError("CSV must contain at least one transfer row")
  return rows


def _exact_keys(
    obj: Any,
    required: Iterable[str],
    optional: Iterable[str],
    where: str,
) -> dict[str, Any]:
  if not isinstance(obj, dict):
    raise ValidationError(f"{where} must be an object")
  required_set = set(required)
  allowed = required_set | set(optional)
  missing = sorted(required_set - set(obj))
  unknown = sorted(set(obj) - allowed)
  if missing:
    raise ValidationError(f"{where} missing keys: {', '.join(missing)}")
  if unknown:
    raise ValidationError(f"{where} has unknown keys: {', '.join(unknown)}")
  return obj


def _name(value: Any, where: str) -> str:
  if not isinstance(value, str) or NAME_RE.fullmatch(value) is None:
    raise ValidationError(f"{where} must match {NAME_RE.pattern}")
  return value


def _number(
    value: Any,
    where: str,
    *,
    minimum: float = 0.0,
    maximum: float,
    minimum_inclusive: bool = True,
) -> float:
  if isinstance(value, bool) or not isinstance(value, (int, float)):
    raise ValidationError(f"{where} must be a number")
  try:
    result = float(value)
  except OverflowError as exc:
    raise ValidationError(f"{where} must be a finite bounded number") from exc
  if not math.isfinite(result):
    raise ValidationError(f"{where} must be finite")
  too_small = result < minimum if minimum_inclusive else result <= minimum
  if too_small or result > maximum:
    bracket = "[" if minimum_inclusive else "("
    raise ValidationError(f"{where} must be in {bracket}{minimum}, {maximum}]")
  return result


def _integer(value: Any, where: str, minimum: int, maximum: int) -> int:
  if isinstance(value, bool) or not isinstance(value, int):
    raise ValidationError(f"{where} must be an integer")
  if value < minimum or value > maximum:
    raise ValidationError(f"{where} must be in [{minimum}, {maximum}]")
  return value


def _string_list(value: Any, where: str, maximum_items: int = 256) -> list[str]:
  if not isinstance(value, list) or not value or len(value) > maximum_items:
    raise ValidationError(f"{where} must be a non-empty list with at most {maximum_items} items")
  result: list[str] = []
  for index, item in enumerate(value):
    result.append(_name(item, f"{where}[{index}]"))
  if len(set(result)) != len(result):
    raise ValidationError(f"{where} must not contain duplicates")
  return result


def _xyz(value: Any, where: str, *, positive: bool) -> dict[str, float]:
  obj = _exact_keys(value, ("x", "y", "z"), (), where)
  minimum_inclusive = not positive
  return {
      axis: _number(
          obj[axis],
          f"{where}.{axis}",
          minimum=0.0,
          maximum=MAX_DIMENSION_MM,
          minimum_inclusive=minimum_inclusive,
      )
      for axis in ("x", "y", "z")
  }


def row_index(row_letters: str) -> int:
  index = 0
  for character in row_letters:
    index = index * 26 + ord(character) - ord("A") + 1
  return index - 1


def validate_well(well: str, rows: int, columns: int, where: str) -> str:
  match = WELL_RE.fullmatch(well)
  if match is None:
    raise ValidationError(f"{where} must be an uppercase well such as A1")
  row, column_text = match.groups()
  if row_index(row) >= rows or int(column_text) > columns:
    raise ValidationError(f"{where}={well} lies outside the declared grid")
  return well


def _validate_grid(value: Any, kind: str, where: str) -> dict[str, Any]:
  if kind == "tip_rack":
    obj = _exact_keys(value, ("rows", "columns", "tip_capacity_uL"), (), where)
    return {
        "rows": _integer(obj["rows"], f"{where}.rows", 1, 384),
        "columns": _integer(obj["columns"], f"{where}.columns", 1, 384),
        "tip_capacity_uL": _number(
            obj["tip_capacity_uL"],
            f"{where}.tip_capacity_uL",
            maximum=MAX_VOLUME_UL,
            minimum_inclusive=False,
        ),
    }
  obj = _exact_keys(
      value,
      ("rows", "columns", "well_capacity_uL", "dead_volume_uL", "well_depth_mm"),
      (),
      where,
  )
  capacity = _number(
      obj["well_capacity_uL"],
      f"{where}.well_capacity_uL",
      maximum=MAX_VOLUME_UL,
      minimum_inclusive=False,
  )
  dead = _number(
      obj["dead_volume_uL"],
      f"{where}.dead_volume_uL",
      maximum=capacity,
  )
  if dead >= capacity:
    raise ValidationError(f"{where}.dead_volume_uL must be below well capacity")
  return {
      "rows": _integer(obj["rows"], f"{where}.rows", 1, 384),
      "columns": _integer(obj["columns"], f"{where}.columns", 1, 384),
      "well_capacity_uL": capacity,
      "dead_volume_uL": dead,
      "well_depth_mm": _number(
          obj["well_depth_mm"],
          f"{where}.well_depth_mm",
          maximum=MAX_DIMENSION_MM,
          minimum_inclusive=False,
      ),
  }


def validate_manifest(data: dict[str, Any]) -> dict[str, Any]:
  """Validate and normalize protocol manifest schema v1.0."""
  top = _exact_keys(
      data,
      ("schema_version", "protocol_id", "mode", "units", "deck", "resources", "constraints"),
      (),
      "manifest",
  )
  if top["schema_version"] != SCHEMA_VERSION:
    raise ValidationError(f"schema_version must be {SCHEMA_VERSION!r}")
  protocol_id = _name(top["protocol_id"], "protocol_id")
  if top["mode"] != "offline":
    raise ValidationError("mode must be 'offline'; live execution is not supported")

  units = _exact_keys(top["units"], ("volume", "length", "rate", "time"), (), "units")
  expected_units = {"volume": "uL", "length": "mm", "rate": "uL/s", "time": "s"}
  if units != expected_units:
    raise ValidationError(f"units must exactly equal {expected_units}")

  deck_obj = _exact_keys(top["deck"], ("name", "size_mm"), (), "deck")
  deck = {
      "name": _name(deck_obj["name"], "deck.name"),
      "size_mm": _xyz(deck_obj["size_mm"], "deck.size_mm", positive=True),
  }

  resources_value = top["resources"]
  if (
      not isinstance(resources_value, list)
      or not resources_value
      or len(resources_value) > MAX_RESOURCES
  ):
    raise ValidationError(f"resources must contain 1 to {MAX_RESOURCES} objects")

  resources: list[dict[str, Any]] = []
  resource_names: set[str] = set()
  for index, raw_resource in enumerate(resources_value):
    where = f"resources[{index}]"
    base = _exact_keys(
        raw_resource,
        ("name", "kind", "location_mm", "size_mm"),
        ("grid", "initial_volumes_uL", "tip_type", "tips_available"),
        where,
    )
    name = _name(base["name"], f"{where}.name")
    if name in resource_names:
      raise ValidationError(f"duplicate resource name: {name}")
    resource_names.add(name)
    kind = base["kind"]
    if not isinstance(kind, str) or kind not in RESOURCE_KINDS:
      raise ValidationError(f"{where}.kind must be one of {sorted(RESOURCE_KINDS)}")
    normalized: dict[str, Any] = {
        "name": name,
        "kind": kind,
        "location_mm": _xyz(base["location_mm"], f"{where}.location_mm", positive=False),
        "size_mm": _xyz(base["size_mm"], f"{where}.size_mm", positive=True),
    }

    if kind == "waste":
      forbidden = {"grid", "initial_volumes_uL", "tip_type", "tips_available"} & set(base)
      if forbidden:
        raise ValidationError(f"{where} waste has forbidden keys: {', '.join(sorted(forbidden))}")
    elif kind == "tip_rack":
      if "grid" not in base or "tip_type" not in base or "tips_available" not in base:
        raise ValidationError(f"{where} tip_rack requires grid, tip_type, and tips_available")
      if "initial_volumes_uL" in base:
        raise ValidationError(f"{where} tip_rack cannot define initial volumes")
      grid = _validate_grid(base["grid"], kind, f"{where}.grid")
      tips = _string_list(base["tips_available"], f"{where}.tips_available", 384 * 384)
      for tip_index, tip in enumerate(tips):
        validate_well(tip, grid["rows"], grid["columns"], f"{where}.tips_available[{tip_index}]")
      normalized.update(
          grid=grid,
          tip_type=_name(base["tip_type"], f"{where}.tip_type"),
          tips_available=tips,
      )
    else:
      if "grid" not in base or "initial_volumes_uL" not in base:
        raise ValidationError(f"{where} {kind} requires grid and initial_volumes_uL")
      if "tip_type" in base or "tips_available" in base:
        raise ValidationError(f"{where} {kind} cannot define tip fields")
      grid = _validate_grid(base["grid"], kind, f"{where}.grid")
      volumes = base["initial_volumes_uL"]
      if not isinstance(volumes, dict):
        raise ValidationError(f"{where}.initial_volumes_uL must be an object")
      normalized_volumes: dict[str, float] = {}
      for well, volume in volumes.items():
        validate_well(well, grid["rows"], grid["columns"], f"{where}.initial_volumes_uL key")
        normalized_volumes[well] = _number(
            volume,
            f"{where}.initial_volumes_uL.{well}",
            maximum=grid["well_capacity_uL"],
        )
      normalized.update(grid=grid, initial_volumes_uL=normalized_volumes)
    resources.append(normalized)

  if not any(resource["kind"] == "waste" for resource in resources):
    raise ValidationError("manifest must declare at least one waste resource")

  constraints_obj = _exact_keys(
      top["constraints"],
      (
          "allowed_liquid_classes",
          "allowed_tip_types",
          "channels",
          "requires_human_confirmation",
          "max_transfer_uL",
          "max_rate_uL_s",
      ),
      (),
      "constraints",
  )
  if constraints_obj["requires_human_confirmation"] is not True:
    raise ValidationError("constraints.requires_human_confirmation must be true")
  constraints = {
      "allowed_liquid_classes": _string_list(
          constraints_obj["allowed_liquid_classes"], "constraints.allowed_liquid_classes"
      ),
      "allowed_tip_types": _string_list(
          constraints_obj["allowed_tip_types"], "constraints.allowed_tip_types"
      ),
      "channels": _integer(
          constraints_obj["channels"], "constraints.channels", 1, MAX_CHANNELS
      ),
      "requires_human_confirmation": True,
      "max_transfer_uL": _number(
          constraints_obj["max_transfer_uL"],
          "constraints.max_transfer_uL",
          maximum=MAX_VOLUME_UL,
          minimum_inclusive=False,
      ),
      "max_rate_uL_s": _number(
          constraints_obj["max_rate_uL_s"],
          "constraints.max_rate_uL_s",
          maximum=MAX_RATE_UL_S,
          minimum_inclusive=False,
      ),
  }

  for resource in resources:
    if resource["kind"] == "tip_rack" and resource["tip_type"] not in constraints["allowed_tip_types"]:
      raise ValidationError(
          f"tip rack {resource['name']} uses a tip_type outside constraints.allowed_tip_types"
      )

  return {
      "schema_version": SCHEMA_VERSION,
      "protocol_id": protocol_id,
      "mode": "offline",
      "units": expected_units,
      "deck": deck,
      "resources": resources,
      "constraints": constraints,
  }


def _parse_float_text(
    value: str,
    where: str,
    *,
    maximum: float,
    minimum: float = 0.0,
    minimum_inclusive: bool = True,
) -> float:
  try:
    parsed = float(value)
  except ValueError as exc:
    raise ValidationError(f"{where} must be a decimal number") from exc
  return _number(
      parsed,
      where,
      minimum=minimum,
      maximum=maximum,
      minimum_inclusive=minimum_inclusive,
  )


def _parse_int_text(value: str, where: str, minimum: int, maximum: int) -> int:
  if INT_TEXT_RE.fullmatch(value) is None:
    raise ValidationError(f"{where} must be an unsigned base-10 integer")
  try:
    parsed = int(value)
  except ValueError as exc:
    raise ValidationError(f"{where} integer exceeds supported limits") from exc
  if parsed < minimum or parsed > maximum:
    raise ValidationError(f"{where} must be in [{minimum}, {maximum}]")
  return parsed


def _endpoint(value: str, where: str) -> tuple[str, str]:
  if value.count(":") != 1:
    raise ValidationError(f"{where} must use resource:WELL syntax")
  resource, well = value.split(":")
  _name(resource, f"{where} resource")
  if WELL_RE.fullmatch(well) is None:
    raise ValidationError(f"{where} well must be uppercase, for example A1")
  return resource, well


def validate_transfers(rows: list[dict[str, str]]) -> list[dict[str, Any]]:
  normalized: list[dict[str, Any]] = []
  identifiers: set[str] = set()
  for index, row in enumerate(rows):
    where = f"transfers[{index}]"
    transfer_id = _name(row["transfer_id"], f"{where}.transfer_id")
    if transfer_id in identifiers:
      raise ValidationError(f"duplicate transfer_id: {transfer_id}")
    identifiers.add(transfer_id)
    if row["tip_policy"] != "new":
      raise ValidationError(f"{where}.tip_policy must be 'new' for contamination safety")
    normalized.append(
        {
            "transfer_id": transfer_id,
            "source": _endpoint(row["source"], f"{where}.source"),
            "destination": _endpoint(row["destination"], f"{where}.destination"),
            "volume_uL": _parse_float_text(
                row["volume_uL"],
                f"{where}.volume_uL",
                maximum=MAX_VOLUME_UL,
                minimum_inclusive=False,
            ),
            "tip_policy": "new",
            "tip_type": _name(row["tip_type"], f"{where}.tip_type"),
            "liquid_class": _name(row["liquid_class"], f"{where}.liquid_class"),
            "aspiration_height_mm": _parse_float_text(
                row["aspiration_height_mm"],
                f"{where}.aspiration_height_mm",
                maximum=MAX_DIMENSION_MM,
            ),
            "dispense_height_mm": _parse_float_text(
                row["dispense_height_mm"],
                f"{where}.dispense_height_mm",
                maximum=MAX_DIMENSION_MM,
            ),
            "aspiration_rate_uL_s": _parse_float_text(
                row["aspiration_rate_uL_s"],
                f"{where}.aspiration_rate_uL_s",
                maximum=MAX_RATE_UL_S,
                minimum_inclusive=False,
            ),
            "dispense_rate_uL_s": _parse_float_text(
                row["dispense_rate_uL_s"],
                f"{where}.dispense_rate_uL_s",
                maximum=MAX_RATE_UL_S,
                minimum_inclusive=False,
            ),
            "channel": _parse_int_text(
                row["channel"], f"{where}.channel", 0, MAX_CHANNELS - 1
            ),
        }
    )
  return normalized


def geometry_report(manifest: dict[str, Any]) -> dict[str, Any]:
  deck_size = manifest["deck"]["size_mm"]
  resources = manifest["resources"]
  out_of_bounds: list[dict[str, Any]] = []
  for resource in resources:
    axes: list[str] = []
    for axis in ("x", "y", "z"):
      start = resource["location_mm"][axis]
      end = start + resource["size_mm"][axis]
      if start < 0 or end > deck_size[axis]:
        axes.append(axis)
    if axes:
      out_of_bounds.append({"resource": resource["name"], "axes": axes})

  collisions: list[dict[str, str]] = []
  for left_index, left in enumerate(resources):
    for right in resources[left_index + 1 :]:
      overlaps = all(
          min(
              left["location_mm"][axis] + left["size_mm"][axis],
              right["location_mm"][axis] + right["size_mm"][axis],
          )
          > max(left["location_mm"][axis], right["location_mm"][axis])
          for axis in ("x", "y", "z")
      )
      if overlaps:
        collisions.append({"resource_a": left["name"], "resource_b": right["name"]})

  return {
      "ok": not out_of_bounds and not collisions,
      "out_of_bounds": out_of_bounds,
      "collisions": collisions,
      "model": "axis-aligned static bounding boxes in millimetres",
      "limitations": [
          "does not model rotations, gripper/channel motion envelopes, lids, tubing, cables, or tolerances",
          "passing this check is not evidence that a physical run is collision-free",
      ],
  }


def plan_transfers(
    manifest: dict[str, Any],
    transfers: list[dict[str, Any]],
) -> dict[str, Any]:
  resources = {resource["name"]: resource for resource in manifest["resources"]}
  constraints = manifest["constraints"]
  liquid_classes = set(constraints["allowed_liquid_classes"])
  tip_types = set(constraints["allowed_tip_types"])
  waste = next(resource["name"] for resource in manifest["resources"] if resource["kind"] == "waste")

  available_tips: dict[str, list[tuple[str, str, float]]] = {tip_type: [] for tip_type in tip_types}
  for resource in manifest["resources"]:
    if resource["kind"] == "tip_rack":
      for well in resource["tips_available"]:
        available_tips[resource["tip_type"]].append(
            (resource["name"], well, resource["grid"]["tip_capacity_uL"])
        )

  ledger: dict[tuple[str, str], float] = {}
  known_liquid_state: set[tuple[str, str]] = set()
  for resource in manifest["resources"]:
    if resource["kind"] in LIQUID_KINDS:
      for well, volume in resource["initial_volumes_uL"].items():
        ledger[(resource["name"], well)] = volume
        known_liquid_state.add((resource["name"], well))

  operations: list[dict[str, Any]] = []
  tip_cursor: dict[str, int] = {tip_type: 0 for tip_type in tip_types}
  for index, transfer in enumerate(transfers):
    where = f"transfers[{index}]"
    source_name, source_well = transfer["source"]
    destination_name, destination_well = transfer["destination"]
    if source_name not in resources or destination_name not in resources:
      raise ValidationError(f"{where} references an unknown resource")
    source_resource = resources[source_name]
    destination_resource = resources[destination_name]
    if source_resource["kind"] not in LIQUID_KINDS:
      raise ValidationError(f"{where}.source must reference liquid-holding labware")
    if destination_resource["kind"] not in LIQUID_KINDS:
      raise ValidationError(f"{where}.destination must reference liquid-holding labware")
    validate_well(
        source_well,
        source_resource["grid"]["rows"],
        source_resource["grid"]["columns"],
        f"{where}.source",
    )
    validate_well(
        destination_well,
        destination_resource["grid"]["rows"],
        destination_resource["grid"]["columns"],
        f"{where}.destination",
    )
    source_key = (source_name, source_well)
    destination_key = (destination_name, destination_well)
    if source_key == destination_key:
      raise ValidationError(f"{where} source and destination must differ")
    if source_key not in known_liquid_state:
      raise ValidationError(f"{where}.source requires declared starting volume")
    if destination_key not in known_liquid_state:
      raise ValidationError(f"{where}.destination requires declared starting volume, including zero")

    volume = transfer["volume_uL"]
    if volume > constraints["max_transfer_uL"]:
      raise ValidationError(f"{where}.volume_uL exceeds constraints.max_transfer_uL")
    if transfer["liquid_class"] not in liquid_classes:
      raise ValidationError(f"{where}.liquid_class is not allowlisted")
    if transfer["tip_type"] not in tip_types:
      raise ValidationError(f"{where}.tip_type is not allowlisted")
    if transfer["channel"] >= constraints["channels"]:
      raise ValidationError(f"{where}.channel exceeds the declared channel count")
    if (
        transfer["aspiration_rate_uL_s"] > constraints["max_rate_uL_s"]
        or transfer["dispense_rate_uL_s"] > constraints["max_rate_uL_s"]
    ):
      raise ValidationError(f"{where} rate exceeds constraints.max_rate_uL_s")
    if transfer["aspiration_height_mm"] > source_resource["grid"]["well_depth_mm"]:
      raise ValidationError(f"{where}.aspiration_height_mm exceeds source well depth")
    if transfer["dispense_height_mm"] > destination_resource["grid"]["well_depth_mm"]:
      raise ValidationError(f"{where}.dispense_height_mm exceeds destination well depth")

    remaining = ledger[source_key] - volume
    if remaining < source_resource["grid"]["dead_volume_uL"]:
      raise ValidationError(f"{where} would aspirate below source dead volume")
    destination_volume = ledger[destination_key] + volume
    if destination_volume > destination_resource["grid"]["well_capacity_uL"]:
      raise ValidationError(f"{where} would exceed destination well capacity")

    tips = available_tips.get(transfer["tip_type"], [])
    cursor = tip_cursor[transfer["tip_type"]]
    if cursor >= len(tips):
      raise ValidationError(f"{where} has no unused compatible tip")
    tip_rack, tip_well, tip_capacity = tips[cursor]
    if volume > tip_capacity:
      raise ValidationError(f"{where}.volume_uL exceeds selected tip capacity")
    tip_cursor[transfer["tip_type"]] += 1

    ledger[source_key] = remaining
    ledger[destination_key] = destination_volume
    known_liquid_state.add(destination_key)
    operations.append(
        {
            **transfer,
            "source": f"{source_name}:{source_well}",
            "destination": f"{destination_name}:{destination_well}",
            "assigned_tip": f"{tip_rack}:{tip_well}",
            "drop_tip_at": waste,
        }
    )

  final_ledger = [
      {"location": f"{resource}:{well}", "volume_uL": round(volume, 9)}
      for (resource, well), volume in sorted(ledger.items())
  ]
  used_tips = sum(tip_cursor.values())
  return {
      "ok": True,
      "protocol_id": manifest["protocol_id"],
      "operations": operations,
      "final_volume_ledger": final_ledger,
      "tip_summary": {
          "policy": "one new tip per transfer",
          "used": used_tips,
          "remaining": sum(len(available_tips[key]) - tip_cursor[key] for key in tip_cursor),
      },
      "bookkeeping_warning": (
          "Volumes and tips are planned state only; they do not detect physical liquid or tip presence."
      ),
  }


def emit_json(payload: Any, *, stream: Any = None) -> None:
  if stream is None:
    stream = sys.stdout
  print(json.dumps(payload, indent=2, sort_keys=True, allow_nan=False), file=stream)


def emit_error(error: Exception) -> int:
  emit_json(
      {"ok": False, "error": type(error).__name__, "message": str(error)},
      stream=sys.stderr,
  )
  return 2

Requirements and compatibility

Works with: Claude Code, Claude apps, OpenAI Codex, GitHub Copilot, Cursor, Gemini CLI, Kiro, OpenCode, Goose, Amp, Roo Code, JetBrains Junie, Factory Droid, Devin (ex-Windsurf), Mistral Vibe, OpenHands, Letta

“Works with” means the tool reads the open Agent Skills format; a skill written for one tool may use features others lack.

Needs: Declares allowed tools, Needs network access, Needs Python

The author says: Verified against PyLabRobot 0.2.2 on Python 3.9+. Bundled planning CLIs require only Python 3.11+ and make no serial, USB, or network connections. Physical devices need model-specific extras, configuration, calibration, and trained operator approval.

Security

What our scanner noticed· Low risk

  • Instructions that use the network
  • Scripts that your agent may run

This skill includes scripts that your agent may run. Read them before you use it.

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Attribution and licence

Created by
K-Dense Inc.
Publisher
K-Dense (Community)
Source
K-Dense-AI/scientific-agent-skills · skills/pylabrobot · commit a25cf9e
Licence
MIT License (redistribution allowed)
  • LICENSE (added by AutoGineer from LICENSE.md)
  • ATTRIBUTION.md (written by AutoGineer)
Synced

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Download ZIP

The ZIP holds the skill’s files, its licence files and an ATTRIBUTION.md. Download pylabrobot.zip