Openshelf :: Open-source Modular Inventory Automation Systems

Openshelf (opshelf.com) is a New York-based robotics startup developing open-source modular inventory automation systems for laboratories, pharmacies, and other high-value inventory environments. The company’s mission is to automate physical inventory management using affordable, flexible, and fully open-source hardware and software, making advanced automation accessible beyond large enterprises. Openshelf targets research labs, biotech companies, pharmacies, and other organizations where manual inventory tracking is time-consuming, error-prone, and costly. Their flagship product, LB AR/RS (Automated Storage and Retrieval System), is a modular robotic platform designed to store, track, and retrieve a wide variety of lab items with minimal human intervention.

The LB AR/RS system is a compact, modular robotic storage solution that can be scaled to fit different space and capacity needs. It uses a combination of robotics, barcode scanning, high-precision scales, and label printing to fully automate inventory workflows. The system supports well plates (up to 200 × 96-well plates), various bottle sizes (up to 150 small, 95 medium, or 40 large bottles), and other lab consumables. It achieves an average cycle time of ~20 seconds per item with ±10g weight tolerance. The platform includes a barcode scanner, label printer, and high-precision scale, with upcoming features such as camera inspection, cherry-picking, and refrigeration modules planned for Q1 2027.

Openshelf’s solution is fully open-source, encouraging community contributions and customization. It integrates with existing Laboratory Information Management Systems (LIMS), Inventory Management Systems (IMS), and ERP platforms via HTTP API. Security features include access control and audit trails. The company highlights its affordability and flexibility as key differentiators, aiming to replace manual inventory processes that are prone to human error and inefficiency. Early feedback from partners like Genspace (a community biolab) praises the system’s practicality and cost-effectiveness for open-source lab automation.

By combining modular robotics, real-time tracking, and open-source principles, Openshelf is helping democratize advanced inventory automation for scientific and healthcare environments. The company is actively hiring (mechanical engineers in New York) and expanding its platform to support broader laboratory automation needs.