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Using Claude with Swarm AI

How to effectively use Claude to control your lab devices.

Getting Started​

Once you've configured Claude Desktop or Claude Code, you can start controlling devices with natural language.

Basic Operations​

Discovering Devices​

Start by finding out what's available:

"What devices are connected to Swarm AI?"

Claude will list all devices registered to your organization with their IDs and types.

Checking Device Status​

"Is the shaker initialized?"

"What are the capabilities of lab1-centrifuge?"

"Get the current temperature of the sealer"

Running Operations​

Shakers:

"Shake plate-shaker at 500 RPM for 30 seconds"

Centrifuges:

"Centrifuge sample-spinner at 2000 g for 2 minutes"

Sealers:

"Seal the plate at 165 degrees for 5 seconds"

Device Control​

"Open the centrifuge door"

"Initialize the shaker"

"Stop the centrifuge immediately"

Working with Transporters​

Transporters (robotic arms) have more complex operations. See Transporters for the full guide.

Quick Examples​

"Move the robot arm to source_rack"

"Pick up a plate from source_slot_1"

"Place the plate at destination_rack"

"Pick from input_stack and place at shaker_nest"

Multi-Step Workflows​

Claude can execute sequences of operations. For best results, break workflows into individual steps:

"Pick the plate from source_rack and place it on the shaker"

Then:

"Shake at 500 RPM for 30 seconds"

Then:

"Pick the plate from the shaker and place it in the centrifuge"

This step-by-step approach avoids timeout issues with long-running operations and lets you verify each step completes successfully.

Tips for Effective Prompts​

Be Specific with Device IDs​

If you have multiple devices of the same type, use the exact device_id:

Good: "Shake lab1-shaker-01 at 500 RPM"

Vague: "Shake the shaker at 500 RPM" (works if you only have one)

Include Units​

Specify units to avoid ambiguity:

"Shake at 500 RPM for 30 seconds"

"Centrifuge at 2000 g for 2 minutes"

"Seal at 165 degrees Celsius for 5 seconds"

Ask for Confirmation​

For critical operations:

"Move the plate from source to destination. Tell me each step before you do it."

Check Status First​

Before running operations:

"Is the shaker initialized and ready?"

"Is there a plate currently on the shaker?"

What's Next?​