Virtual pipetting

Abstract

A method for generating a control program () for a laboratory automation device () comprises: receiving configuration data () of the laboratory automation device (), the configuration data () encoding positions of components () in the laboratory automation device (); generating a three-dimensional model () of the components () of the laboratory automation device () from the configuration data (), the three-dimensional model () additionally including a virtual pipette (); displaying the three-dimensional model () with a virtual reality headset (); receiving movement data () of a motion sensing controller () controlled by a user wearing the virtual reality headset (), the movement data () indicating a three-dimensional movement of the motion sensing controller () in space; determining a movement of the virtual pipette () from the movement data () in the three-dimensional model () and updating the three-dimensional model () according to the movement of the virtual pipette (); and generating a control program () for the laboratory automation device () from the movement data (), wherein the control program () is adapted for moving a pipetting arm () with a pipette () of the laboratory automation device () with respect to the components () accordingly to the movement of the virtual pipette () in the three-dimensional model ().