Initialize the liquid handler and place labware. Call this before any liquid handling tool.

backend: 'chatterbox' (simulation, no hardware), 'star' (Hamilton STAR), 'ot2' (Opentrons OT-2, needs host), or 'evo' (Tecan Freedom EVO). Defaults to the server's configured backend. For chatterbox and star a 1000 uL tip rack and a Corning 96-well plate are auto-loaded onto a STARLet deck. host: OT-2 robot IP address (only used when backend='ot2').

List the resources currently assigned to the deck and the run mode.

Pick up tips from the tip rack. wells is a PyLabRobot range such as 'A1', 'A1:H1' (a full column), or 'A1:D1'.

Return tips to the tip rack at the given range.

Aspirate volume microliters from each plate well in wells.

Dispense volume microliters into each plate well in wells.

Transfer volume microliters from source wells to dest wells in one head pass (pick up tips, aspirate, dispense, drop tips). Source and dest ranges must have the same well count, at most one column.

Read the plate in the reader. mode is 'absorbance' (uses wavelength), 'fluorescence' (uses excitation/emission/focal_height), or 'luminescence' (uses focal_height).

Control the thermocycler. action is one of: set_block (needs block_temp), set_lid (needs lid_temp), open_lid, close_lid, deactivate, status. Temperatures are in Celsius.

Control the heater-shaker. action is one of: set_temperature (needs temperature in Celsius), shake (needs speed in rpm, optional duration in seconds), stop, deactivate, status.