Components

This page describes the SiLA servers and supporting services that make up the VU lab automation stack.

Robot Arm

Hardware: UFactory 850

SiLA server source: genericroboticarm (port 50054)

See Robot Arm for full setup and configuration.

Plate Reader

Hardware: Agilent BioTek Synergy HTX Multimode Reader

SiLA server source: Gen5 private connector (not publicly available)

Docker service: gen5 (port 50053)

The Gen5 connector requires environment configuration before use. Copy gen5/.env.example to gen5/.env and fill in the values specific to your plate reader setup.

Magnetic Shaker

Hardware: VARIONMAG Teleshake 1536 (8 units)

SiLA server source: Teleshake-1536

Running mode: Native on Windows (not in Docker — RS-232 COM ports cannot be forwarded to Linux containers)

The teleshake runs outside Docker on the Windows host and connects to the lab PC's native RS-232 port (COM1). See Teleshake 1536 for full setup instructions and known issues.

Plate Hotels

Hardware: HighRes Bio Stationary Plate Hotel

The plate hotels are passive storage — they have no SiLA server of their own. The robot arm moves plates in and out; positions are defined in the position graph (see Lab Configuration — Position graph).

Scanner

Hardware: Epson Perfection V600 Flatbed Scanner

The scanner is used to take pictures of plates. The robot arm places a plate on the scanner via the photobooth position defined in the position graph (see Lab Configuration — Position graph).

Platform Status Database

Docker service: platform_status_db (port 8000)

A PostgreSQL-backed service that tracks the status of containers (plates) on the platform — their current location, barcode, and processing history. The laborchestrator writes to it via StatusDBImplementation and it is exposed as a REST API.

Credentials (development only): platform_status / platform_status

The database uses a named Docker volume (pgdata) so data persists across container restarts.

A web interface is available at http://localhost:8000 when the service is running.