Opentrons Experimental HTTP Sessions API

Note that support for this experimental API will be ended with the upcoming 5.0 release of the robot software. At that time, the endpoints documented below will no longer work.*

Version 4.0 of the OT-2 robot software introduces a number of features that provide greater flexibility in protocol execution.

Prior to this version, to run a protocol on the OT-2, you needed to use:

The Opentrons App GUI.
The opentrons-execute tool on the OT-2's command line.
The OT-2's Jupyter Notebook.

Now, you can additionally upload, run, and interact with protocols entirely through a documented RESTful HTTP API.

Please note: These features are in experimental stage and therefore details might change. We'll keep users up to date on this page. Until we officially release endpoints, they are subject to change at any time. Additionally, we will not be providing support for these endpoints until they are officially released and documented on the Opentrons website.

New Features

Protocol upload

Python and JSON protocols can be uploaded to the OT-2 using an HTTP API. Protocol files will reside on the OT-2's file system until deleted or the OT-2 is turned off.

Protocol sessions

A protocol session type has been added to the sessions endpoints. A protocol session is associated with an uploaded protocol. Protocols can be simulated and executed using session commands.

Support files

Protocols uploaded using the HTTP API can include support files. These can be data files or other python files. Python protocols can use open to access these files.

Importing user modules in Python protocols

A python file uploaded as a support file can be imported in a Python protocol. This enables breaking up Python protocols into multiple files for easy code reuse.

Audience

We assume that you're either already familiar with these things, or you can figure them out on your own.

How HTTP and JSON APIs generally work.
How to use your chosen programming language, libraries, and tools (like Postman or cURL ) to interact with HTTP and JSON APIs.

If you're not already familiar with these things, let us know. We won't be able to provide detailed support, but we might be able to point you to some learning resources.

Getting Help

Because these endpoints are experimental, Opentrons does not yet offer official support for them. We will be providing more official support channels as the API matures.

Of course, for non-beta-related help, contact Opentrons Support or visit our Help Center.

Sharing Feedback

Share feedback by emailing beta@opentrons.com.

If you have any thoughts on the current API, or our future plans for it, please share them! We need your help to make this API great. ❤️

We'd love to hear about:

Bugs that you run into.
Features that seem missing.
Parts of the API that you found confusing, hard to use, or inconvenient.
Difficulties following the documentation, or things that you wish were explained better.
Anything else on your mind!

Setting Up

Update your Opentrons App and OT-2

Make sure both your Opentrons App and OT-2 are on the latest software version.

Perform the update as normal .

You can check what the latest version is at https://github.com/Opentrons/opentrons/releases/latest .

Enable the experimental features

Since these features are experimental, they're disabled by default. Here's how to enable them:

From the Robot tab, go to your OT-2's page.
Scroll down to the Advanced Settings section.
Turn on Enable Experimental HTTP Protocol Sessions.

Note: While these experimental features are enabled, you won't be able to upload protocols the normal way, through the Opentrons App.

To restore the ability to upload protocols through the Opentrons App, turn off Enable Experimental HTTP Protocol Sessions. Feel free to toggle the setting whenever you need to.

Examples

Requirements for these examples

The software requirement for the examples is cURL or Python 3.7 with requests package.

Replace {robot_ip_address} with the IP address of the OT-2 which is found in the Opentrons application's Connectivity section.

Uploading a protocol

To upload a protocol file called "my_protocol.py". The response will contain a unique identifier for the protocol (protocol_id).

cURL

curl -X POST "http://{*robot_ip_address*}:31950/protocols" -H "Opentrons-Version: 2" -H  "accept: application/json" -H "Content-Type: multipart/form-data" -F "protocolFile=@my_protocol.py"

Python

POST the file to OT-2:

response = requests.post(
    url=f"http://{robot_ip_address}:31950/protocols",
    files=[("protocolFile", open("my_protocol.py", 'rb'))],
    headers={"Opentrons-Version": "2"},
)

Extract the uploaded protocol id from the response:

protocol_id = response.json()['data']['id']

Uploading a protocol with support files

Uploading a protocol file called "my_protocol.py" with two data files called "my_data.csv" and "my_data.json".

cURL

curl -X POST "http://{*robot_ip_address*}:31950/protocols" -H "Opentrons-Version: 2" -H  "accept: application/json" -H  "Content-Type: multipart/form-data" -F "supportFiles=@my_data.csv" -F "supportFiles=@my_data.json" -F "protocolFile=@my_protocol.py"

Python

POST the files to OT-2:

response = requests.post(
    url=f"http://{robot_ip_address}:31950/protocols",
    files=[("protocolFile", open("my_protocol.py", 'rb')),
           ("supportFiles", open("my_data.csv", 'rb')),
           ("supportFiles", open("my_data.json", 'rb'))],
    headers={"Opentrons-Version": "2"},
)

Extract the uploaded protocol id from the response:

protocol_id = response.json()['data']['id']

Creating a protocol session

Once a protocol is uploaded, a session must be created to run the protocol. The response will contain a unique identifier for the session (session_id).

cURL

curl -X POST "http://{*robot_ip_address*}:31950/sessions" -H "Opentrons-Version: 2" -H "accept: application/json" -H "Content-Type: application/json" -d "{\"data\":{\"sessionType\":\"protocol\",\"createParams\":{\"protocolId\":\"{*protocol_id*}\"}}}"

Python

response = requests.post(
    url=f"http://{robot_ip_address}:31950/sessions",
    json={
        "data": {
            "sessionType": "protocol",
            "createParams": {
                "protocolId": protocol_id
            }
        }
    },
    headers={"Opentrons-Version": "2"},
)

Extract the session id from the response:

session_id = response.json()['data']['id']

Then, use session_id to send commands to the protocol sessions.

Run

cURL

curl -X POST "http://{*robot_ip_address*}:31950/sessions/{*session_id*}/commands/execute" -H "Opentrons-Version: 2" -H "accept: application/json" -H "Content-Type: application/json" -d "{\"data\":{\"command\":\"protocol.startRun\",\"data\":{}}}"

Python

requests.post(
    url=f"http://{robot_ip_address}:31950/sessions/{session_id}/commands/execute",
    headers={"Opentrons-Version": "2"},
    json={"data": {"command": "protocol.startRun", "data": {}}}
)

Pause

cURL

curl -X POST "http://{*robot_ip_address*}:31950/sessions/{*session_id*}/commands/execute" -H "Opentrons-Version: 2" -H "accept: application/json" -H "Content-Type: application/json" -d "{\"data\":{\"command\":\"protocol.pause\",\"data\":{}}}"

Python

requests.post(
    url=f"http://{robot_ip_address}:31950/sessions/{session_id}/commands/execute",
    headers={"Opentrons-Version": "2"},
    json={"data": {"command": "protocol.pause", "data": {}}}
)

Resume

cURL

curl -X POST "http://{*robot_ip_address*}:31950/sessions/{*session_id*}/commands/execute" -H "Opentrons-Version: 2" -H "accept: application/json" -H "Content-Type: application/json" -d "{\"data\":{\"command\":\"protocol.resume\",\"data\":{}}}"

Python

requests.post(
    url=f"http://{robot_ip_address}:31950/sessions/{session_id}/commands/execute",
    headers={"Opentrons-Version": "2"},
    json={"data": {"command": "protocol.resume", "data": {}}}
)

Cancel

cURL

curl -X POST "http://{*robot_ip_address*}:31950/sessions/{*session_id*}/commands/execute" -H "Opentrons-Version: 2" -H "accept: application/json" -H "Content-Type: application/json" -d "{\"data\":{\"command\":\"protocol.cancel\",\"data\":{}}}"

Python

requests.post(
    url=f"http://{robot_ip_address}:31950/sessions/{session_id}/commands/execute",
    headers={"Opentrons-Version": "2"},
    json={"data": {"command": "protocol.cancel", "data": {}}}
)

Getting protocol session's status

cURL

curl "http://{*robot_ip_address*}:31950/sessions/{*session_id*}" -H "Opentrons-Version: 2"

Python

response = requests.get(
    url=f"http://{robot_ip_address}:31950/sessions/{session_id}",
    headers={"Opentrons-Version": "2"},
)

Deleting a protocol session

cURL

curl -X DELETE "http://{*robot_ip_address*}:31950/sessions/{*session_id*}" -H "Opentrons-Version: 2"

Python

requests.delete(
    url=f"http://{robot_ip_address}:31950/sessions/{session_id}",
    headers={"Opentrons-Version": "2"},
)

Deleting an uploaded protocol

cURL

curl -X DELETE "http://{*robot_ip_address*}:31950/protocols/{*protocol_id*}" -H "Opentrons-Version: 2"

Python

requests.delete(
    url=f"http://{robot_ip_address}:31950/protocols/{protocol_id}",
    headers={"Opentrons-Version": "2"},
)

Complete example program

This example uses the basic transfer sample protocol as the foundation, but utilizing new features.

Protocol

Create a file called "basic_transfer.py" containing this data:

from opentrons import protocol_api
from helpers import load_config, pick_up_then_drop

metadata = {'apiLevel': '2.6'}


def run(protocol: protocol_api.ProtocolContext):
    configuration = load_config("basic_transfer_config.json")

    plate = protocol.load_labware(configuration['plate'], 1)
    tiprack_1 = protocol.load_labware(configuration['tiprack'], 2)
    instrument = protocol.load_instrument(configuration['instrument']['model'],
                                          configuration['instrument']['mount'],
                                          tip_racks=[tiprack_1])

    transfers = configuration['transfers']
    for transfer in transfers:
        with pick_up_then_drop(instrument):
            ml = transfer['ml']
            instrument.aspirate(ml, plate[transfer['source_well']])
            instrument.dispense(ml, plate[transfer['target_well']])

Configuration File

Create a file called "basic_transfer_config.json" containing

{
  "plate": "corning_96_wellplate_360ul_flat",
  "tiprack": "opentrons_96_tiprack_300ul",
  "instrument": {
    "model": "p300_single",
    "mount": "right"
  },
  "transfers": [
    {
      "source_well": "A1",
      "target_well": "B1",
      "ml": 100
    }]
}

Python helpers

Create a file called "helpers.py" containing this code.

import contextlib
import json

def load_config(name: str):
    """Load a configuration file"""
with open(name, 'rb') as f:
        return json.load(f)

@contextlib.contextmanager
def pick_up_then_drop(instrument):
    """Pick up then automatically drop the tip in a context manager"""
    instrument.pick_up_tip()
    yield
    instrument.drop_tip()

Python Run Script

This script will upload the basic_transfer protocol along with the configuration and helper python module. It will then create protocol session and run the protocol. It will print out the final status of the protocol session when the run is completed. Finally, it will delete the session and the protocol.

import requests
import time


# Replace with actual OT2 address
ROBOT_IP_ADDRESS = "127.0.0.1"


def run():
    # POST the protocol and support files to OT2
    response = requests.post(
        url=f"http://{ROBOT_IP_ADDRESS}:31950/protocols",
        headers={"Opentrons-Version": "2"},
        files=[("protocolFile", open("basic_transfer.py", 'rb')),
               ("supportFiles", open("helpers.py", 'rb')),
               ("supportFiles", open("basic_transfer_config.json", 'rb')),
               ]
    )
    print(f"Create Protocol result: {response.json()}")

    # Extract the uploaded protocol id from the response
    protocol_id = response.json()['data']['id']

    try:
        errors = response.json()['data'].get('errors')
        if errors:
            raise RuntimeError(f"Errors in protocol: {errors}")

        run_protocol(protocol_id)

    finally:
        # Use the protocol_id to DELETE the protocol
        requests.delete(
            url=f"http://{ROBOT_IP_ADDRESS}:31950/protocols/{protocol_id}",
            headers={"Opentrons-Version": "2"},
        )


def run_protocol(protocol_id: str):
    # Create a protocol session
    response = requests.post(
        url=f"http://{ROBOT_IP_ADDRESS}:31950/sessions",
        headers={"Opentrons-Version": "2"},
        json={
            "data": {
                "sessionType": "protocol",
                "createParams": {
                    "protocolId": protocol_id
                }
            }
        }
    )
    print(f"Create Session result: {response.json()}")
    # Extract the session id from the response
    session_id = response.json()['data']['id']

    try:
        # Creating the protocol session kicks off a full simulation which can
        # take some time. Wait until session is in the 'loaded' state before running
        while True:
            # Sleep for 1/2 a second
            time.sleep(.5)

            response = requests.get(
                url=f"http://{ROBOT_IP_ADDRESS}:31950/sessions/{session_id}",
                headers={"Opentrons-Version": "2"},
            )

            current_state = response.json()['data']['details']['currentState']
            if current_state == 'loaded':
                break
            elif current_state == 'error':
                raise RuntimeError(f"Error encountered {response.json()}")

        # Send a command to begin a protocol run
        requests.post(
            url=f"http://{ROBOT_IP_ADDRESS}:31950/sessions/{session_id}/commands/execute",
            headers={"Opentrons-Version": "2"},
            json={"data": {"command": "protocol.startRun", "data": {}}}
        )

        # Wait until session is in the 'finished' state
        while True:
            # Sleep for 1/2 a second
            time.sleep(.5)

            response = requests.get(
                url=f"http://{ROBOT_IP_ADDRESS}:31950/sessions/{session_id}",
                headers={"Opentrons-Version": "2"},
            )

            current_state = response.json()['data']['details']['currentState']
            if current_state == 'finished':
                print("Run is complete:")
                print(response.json())
                break
            elif current_state == 'error':
                raise RuntimeError(f"Error encountered {response.json()}")

    finally:
        # Use the session_id to DELETE the session
        requests.delete(
            url=f"http://{ROBOT_IP_ADDRESS}:31950/sessions/{session_id}",
            headers={"Opentrons-Version": "2"},
        )


if __name__ == '__main__':
    run()

Future Plans

Analysis upon upload

Protocols uploaded to /protocols endpoint will be immediately analyzed and validated. The labware, instruments, and modules required by the protocol will be returned in the JSON response.

Example upload response:

{
  "links": {
    "self": {
      "href": "/protocols/protocol.ot2"
    },
    "protocols": {
      "href": "/protocols"
    },
    "protocolById": {
      "href": "/protocols/{protocolId}"
    }
  },
  "data": {
    "id": "protocol.ot2",
    "protocolFile": {
      "basename": "protocol.ot2.py"
    },
    "supportFiles": [],
    "lastModifiedAt": "2021-01-06T14:14:36.337610+00:00",
    "createdAt": "2021-01-06T14:14:36.337615+00:00",
    "requiredEquipment": {
      "pipettes": [
        {
          "mount": "right",
          "requestedAs": "p300_single",
          "pipetteName": "p300_single",
          "channels": 1
        }
      ],
      "labware": [
        {
          "label": "nest_96_wellplate_200ul_flat",
          "uri": "opentrons/nest_96_wellplate_200ul_flat/1",
          "slot": 1
        },
        {
          "label": "opentrons_96_tiprack_20ul",
          "uri": "opentrons/opentrons_96_tiprack_20ul/1",
          "slot": 2
        },
        {
          "label": "opentrons_24_tuberack_eppendorf_1.5ml_safelock_snapcap",
          "uri": "opentrons/opentrons_24_tuberack_eppendorf_1.5ml_safelock_snapcap/1",
          "slot": 4
        },
        {
          "label": "opentrons_1_trash_1100ml_fixed",
          "uri": "opentrons/opentrons_1_trash_1100ml_fixed/1",
          "slot": 12
        }
      ],
      "modules": []
    },
    "metadata": {
      "name": "Agar test v1.0",
      "author": null,
      "apiLevel": "2.2"
    }
  }
}

Notifications

The OT2 now has a pub/sub service: the notification server. Users can receive protocol events via a websocket or the python subscriber client from our notification-server package.

Custom Labware

Uploading custom labware is not currently supported in the HTTP API, but will be in the near future.

Opentrons/http-api-beta

Opentrons Experimental HTTP Sessions API

New Features

Protocol upload

Protocol sessions

Support files

Importing user modules in Python protocols

Audience

Getting Help

Sharing Feedback

Setting Up

Update your Opentrons App and OT-2

Enable the experimental features

Examples

Requirements for these examples

Uploading a protocol

cURL

Python

Uploading a protocol with support files

cURL

Python

Creating a protocol session

cURL

Python

Run

cURL

Python

Pause

cURL

Python

Resume

cURL

Python

Cancel

cURL

Python

Getting protocol session's status

cURL

Python

Deleting a protocol session

cURL

Python

Deleting an uploaded protocol

cURL

Python

Complete example program

Protocol

Configuration File

Python helpers

Python Run Script

Future Plans

Analysis upon upload

Notifications

Custom Labware