Opentrons Protocol Designer

Opentrons Protocol Designer is a browser-based, no-code application for creating automated liquid‑handling protocols for Opentrons robots. It offers a drag-and-drop interface that brings common lab operations into a visual workflow: pick labware and pipettes, add transfer and mixing steps, define tip handling and pauses, and place modules on the deck. The Designer is built to let bench scientists, lab managers, and technicians convert a manual bench protocol into an executable robot protocol without writing code, reducing setup time and lowering the barrier to automation. At the heart of the Protocol Designer are modular building blocks for routine tasks: single- and multi-step transfers, distribute/consolidate operations, mixing, incubations/pauses, and pauses for manual interventions. Users select from a library of standard labware and common modules (for example, magnetic and temperature modules and the thermocycler where supported), assign pipettes and tip racks, and parameterize volumes, speeds, mixing cycles, and tip reuse. The visual timeline and deck view make it easy to verify that labware placement, tip usage, and robot motions align with bench expectations before running a robot. A built-in preview/simulation helps detect common mistakes, estimates run time and tip consumption, and lets you iterate on steps quickly. Typical use cases include PCR or qPCR setup, serial dilutions and plate reformatting, reagent distribution for ELISA or plate-based assays, magnetic bead–based nucleic acid extractions (when used in combination with Opentrons magnetic modules), and compound or cell‑based screening transfers. Because the Designer abstracts low‑level robot commands into high‑level actions, users can establish reproducible SOPs by encoding volumes, mixing routines, and pause points, then share those protocols across a team or laboratory. Protocol Designer is also a practical way to standardize frequently repeated workflows and to accelerate method transfer between operators or sites. Protocols created in the Designer are exported in a format compatible with Opentrons’ execution environment, enabling straightforward transfer to the Opentrons App and robot for execution. The Designer integrates with Opentrons’ ecosystem: users can save and manage protocols, access example workflows from the Protocol Library, and iterate designs locally before running them on an OT‑series robot. Because it generates machine‑readable protocol files, labs that later need advanced customization can use the exported file as a starting point for hand-editing or conversion into Opentrons API code. Adopting the Protocol Designer is practical and low risk: start with a small-scale run to verify liquid classes, labware offsets, and tip handling, then scale up. The visual approach shortens onboarding for new operators, reduces transcription and pipetting errors that arise from manual setup, and speeds iterative optimization of workflows. For teams moving from bench to automated workflows, the Designer provides a fast, user-friendly bridge — enabling reproducible, shareable automation while preserving the ability to graduate to scripted Opentrons API protocols when more complex logic is required.