Oscar automatically stores, retrieves and tracks physical inventory. Items are identified by barcode, and robot actions are recorded in an audit log. The system includes a barcode scanner, label printer and weighing scale. Average retrieval or handling time is about 20 seconds per item (±5 seconds).
Oscar supports SBS plates, bottles, boxes, tubes and many common labware formats. Maximum item dimensions are 145 × 145 × 220 mm, with a maximum item weight of 5 kg. We validate your exact container mix during the quotation stage.
Standard Oscar holds up to 200 SBS deep-well plates or approximately 50–1,200 bottles, depending on their sizes and shelf configuration. Oscar Cool holds up to 80 plates or 20–300 bottles at ambient temperature, plus up to 60 plates or 10–200 bottles at 4°C. Actual capacity depends on the mix of items.
Yes! Oscar Cool combines ambient storage with a separate, isolated 4°C compartment, maintained within ±2°C. The same robot can move materials between both zones, while a sliding door helps minimise temperature exchange. Temperatures are continuously monitored, with alerts and audit logs for any excursions. −20°C storage is not currently available.
Absolutely! Beyond storing, retrieving and tracking your materials, Oscar offers automation modules for tasks like pipetting, tube cherry picking, decapping and plate preparation. Its open-source software and API also let you create custom protocols and connect Oscar to other lab equipment, making it easy to build workflows around your experiments.
Get in touch to explore the available modules and find the right setup for your lab.
Oscar can use inventory information and configurable storage rules to help manage chemical compatibility. Working with your lab, we can define restrictions for materials that shouldn't be stored together and incorporate them into your workflows. Your team remains responsible for determining the appropriate storage requirements for each chemical.
The indicative base-system price supplied is $15,000, excluding shipping and any optional modules. Please contact Openshelf for a current, configuration-specific quote.
Oscar Basic comes with automated ambient storage and retrieval, a barcode scanner, label printer, weighing scale, and all the software you need, including API access, multi-user controls and audit logging. There are no software licensing fees. Installation and onboarding can be done yourself with our online training and support. Shipping costs are calculated separately.
Oscar can be configured with additional modules to suit your lab. Oscar Cool, with integrated 4°C refrigerated storage, starts at $37,000. Automation options such as cherry picking, decapping and pipetting are priced according to your setup. Get in touch and we'll help you find the right configuration and provide a detailed quote. Shipping is calculated separately.
No. Oscar is a one-time purchase, with no mandatory subscriptions or recurring fees. You own the system outright. If you need additional support, upgrades or services, the Openshelf team is here to help.
Current lead times are 10–12 weeks, depending on your location and configuration. We're speeding up production, but orders are coming in faster than we can build Oscars. Need yours sooner? Get in touch and we'll see what we can do.
We'll work with you to get Oscar ready for your lab. Share your inventory and storage needs, and we'll configure the shelves and trays to fit. We'll also help prepare your network setup and arrange shipping around your delivery requirements. Once Oscar arrives, you can install it yourself with our guidance or arrange installation with our team. We'll then help onboard and train your researchers, online or in person, so you're ready to get started.
Standard Oscar measures 1,499 × 762 × 1,854 mm and weighs approximately 272 kg empty. It requires floor space, Wi-Fi or Ethernet, and one 100–127 VAC, 50/60 Hz, 12 A power input. Oscar Cool measures 1,600 × 1,092 × 1,905 mm, weighs about 295 kg empty and needs a second power input for refrigeration (100–127 VAC, 50/60 Hz, 10 A). Allow extra clearance for doors. Both fit through a standard 36-inch doorway; Oscar Cool's refrigeration module is assembled on site.
Adding new items to Oscar is simple. Just enter your reagent details in the software, and Oscar generates a unique barcode and prints a label using its built-in label printer. Once the item is stored, Oscar uses its barcode scanner and weighing scale to help track inventory, while automatically recording item locations, movements and robot actions in an audit log. So you always know what's in stock and where it is.
Watch our how-to videos here: https://www.youtube.com/@OpShelf
Yes. Oscar supports multiple users and customizable roles, so a shared lab can manage inventory through individual authenticated accounts.
Oscar comes with an easy-to-use dashboard where you can add, find, track and retrieve materials. Manage reagent quantities, lot numbers and expiry dates, set low-stock alerts, and control user access and permissions. You can also monitor machine status, temperature and camera feeds, and use Developer Mode to create custom workflows and control automation modules. Everything in one place.
Yes. Role-based permissions and configurable user- and inventory-level access controls determine who can access different materials. Robot actions are recorded with user attribution in a tamper-protected audit log.
Oscar helps you stay ahead of low stock and expired materials. Set your own stock thresholds and expiry alerts, and Oscar will let you know when it's time to reorder or when a reagent is approaching its expiry date. No more last-minute surprises!
Oscar identifies every item by barcode and logs all movements, so you always know what's in stock and where it is. Its integrated scale measures weight with a tolerance of ±5 g, helping you track remaining quantities and consumption over time. For liquid handling, Oscar's pipetting module can dispense volumes from 1 to 1,000 µL, with a coefficient of variation (CV) of 5% or less.
Oscar safely holds its position during a power outage and guides you through recovery once power returns. With Oscar Cool, the outage is also logged, and the refrigeration module automatically resumes cooling to its set temperature.
Yes. Oscar provides a documented HTTP REST API with OpenAPI documentation, including endpoints for inventory, storage locations, robot operations and system status. Existing IMS, LIMS or ERP software can use the API to synchronize records; integration work depends on your systems.
Oscar supports remote management and software updates over Wi-Fi or Ethernet. Remote access can be restricted according to your organization's IT requirements.
Yes! Oscar's open HTTP REST API lets you connect it to other lab robots, software and automated workflows, including systems used in automated and cloud labs. Physical transfers between machines may require additional equipment or a custom setup. Tell us what you're working with, and we'll help you explore the best way to connect everything.
Explore our API documentation: https://api.opshelf.com/docs/cloud/
Yes! Both Oscar's hardware and software are open source. You can adapt its storage modules and trays, download and 3D-print our designs, or modify them to fit your lab. The software is open source too, so you can customise workflows, connect other systems and build on what we've created.
At the moment, Oscar generates its own barcodes when you add new items to the system. We're working on automatic reagent identification using Oscar's built-in camera, so you'll soon be able to register materials and their details even more easily. Stay tuned!
Real support from real people. We're here to help you set up Oscar, configure it for your lab and get your team up and running, whether online or in person. We can also help you develop custom workflows and protocols for your automation modules.
Have something more ambitious in mind? We love a challenge and would be excited to build it with you.
Yes! Oscar's modular shelves and trays can be configured to fit your materials and adapted as your needs change. You can also add automation modules to expand what Oscar can do. And because Oscar is open source, you're free to modify existing designs or build your own solutions.
Absolutely! We love exploring new possibilities with Oscar. Whether you need a custom storage module, a specific automation workflow or something entirely new, our team is happy to work with you to design and build a solution that fits your lab. Tell us what you have in mind!
Absolutely! Oscar is designed to grow with your lab. You can rearrange shelves and trays or add automation modules for tasks like plate preparation, tube cherry picking and decapping. Upgrading from ambient to refrigerated storage is also possible, but we recommend choosing Oscar Cool from the start if you know you'll need temperature-controlled storage.
Oscar tracks every item by barcode and keeps a detailed log of who accessed it, when and what happened to it. User permissions let you control who can access specific materials, while tamper-protected audit logs provide a clear history of inventory movements. This helps your lab maintain traceability and a reliable chain of custody.
Oscar displays system faults and alerts on screen, with optional remote notifications. If something goes wrong, we're here to help you get back up and running. Every customer gets their own private Slack channel with direct access to our team, so you can reach out whenever you need help.
