Laverick Alex, Convey Katherine, Harrison Catherine, Tomlinson Jenny, Stach Jem, Howard Thomas P
School of Natural and Environmental Sciences, Newcastle University, Newcastle upon Tyne, NE1 7RU, United Kingdom.
Plant Protection, Fera Science Ltd, York Biotech Campus, York YO41 1LZ, United Kingdoms.
Synth Biol (Oxf). 2025 Apr 11;10(1):ysaf009. doi: 10.1093/synbio/ysaf009. eCollection 2025.
OT-Mation is an open-source Python script designed to automate the programming of OT-2 liquid-handling robots, making combinatorial experiments more accessible to researchers. By parsing user-defined CSV files containing information on labware, reagents, pipettes, and experimental design, OT-Mation generates a bespoke Python script compatible with the OT-2 system. OT-Mation enhances reproducibility, reduces human error, and streamlines workflows, making it a valuable addition to any laboratory utilizing OT-2 robotics for liquid handling. While OT-Mation can be used for setting up any type of experiment on the OT-2, its real utility lies in making the connection between multifactorial experimental design software outputs (i.e. design of experiments arrays) and liquid-handling robot executable code. As such, OT-Mation helps bridge the gap between code-based flexibility and user-friendly operation, allowing researchers with limited programming skills to design and execute complex experiments efficiently. .
OT-Mation是一个开源的Python脚本，旨在实现OT-2液体处理机器人编程自动化，使研究人员更容易进行组合实验。通过解析包含实验室器具、试剂、移液器和实验设计信息的用户定义CSV文件，OT-Mation生成一个与OT-2系统兼容的定制Python脚本。OT-Mation提高了可重复性，减少了人为错误，并简化了工作流程，使其成为任何使用OT-2机器人进行液体处理的实验室的宝贵补充。虽然OT-Mation可用于在OT-2上设置任何类型的实验，但其真正的实用价值在于建立多因素实验设计软件输出（即实验设计阵列）与液体处理机器人可执行代码之间的联系。因此，OT-Mation有助于弥合基于代码的灵活性和用户友好操作之间的差距，使编程技能有限的研究人员能够高效地设计和执行复杂实验。
