Labs · Electronics and measurement

LabJack U12 USB DAQ (Lantz U12)

LabJack U12 USB DAQ (Lantz U12), adapted from labpy/lantz. It reads driver_version, firmware_version, analog_input_0, counter and 2 more; sets local_id; runs sample_voltages, set_analog_outputs, pulse_out and reset_device. sample_voltages: acquire a block of analog input scans from channel 0 with aiBurst. A hardware driver: the market serves its fake backend, so no instrument is needed.

hardwareRisk R1BSD-3-Clausecontract_checkedserved on the fake backend
openai4s lab add labs/labpy__lantz

Install

Three ways to run this device. Each one serves its fake backend: no instrument, no simulator install and no upstream checkout.

OpenAI4S (one command)

shell
openai4s lab add labs/labpy__lantz

Installs the device into the OpenAI4S Lab on its fake backend and starts it. First time? See setup below.

Or, in the workbench, open the Lab tab → Market → Install.

Standalone MHS endpoint

shell
git clone --depth 1 https://github.com/PKU-YuanGroup/OpenMHS.git && cd OpenMHS
PYTHONPATH=MHS/sdk/src python3 -m mhs serve labs/labpy__lantz --port 7400
# in a second terminal, from the same directory:
PYTHONPATH=MHS/sdk/src python3 -m mhs describe --endpoint http://127.0.0.1:7400

Serves the device as an MHS endpoint on port 7400 from an OpenMHS clone (Python 3.10 or later, standard library only); describe prints what it offers.

Any MCP host (Claude Desktop, Cursor, …)

mcp configuration
{
  "mcpServers": {
    "lantz": {
      "command": "python3",
      "args": [
        "-m",
        "mhs",
        "serve",
        "labs/labpy__lantz",
        "--mcp"
      ],
      "env": {
        "PYTHONPATH": "/path/to/OpenMHS/MHS/sdk/src"
      }
    }
  }
}

Add this server to the host's MCP configuration and replace /path/to/OpenMHS with the path of your OpenMHS clone. The host starts the server and talks to it on stdin and stdout.

What it does

Measures

  • driver_version
  • firmware_version
  • analog_input_0
  • counter
  • streaming
  • measure_voltage

Adjusts

  • local_id

Actions

sample_voltages
Acquire a block of analog input scans from channel 0 with aiBurst
set_analog_outputs
Set both analog output voltages (U12.eAnalogOut)
pulse_out
Start a pulse train on the selected D0-D7 bits (U12.pulseOutStart)
reset_device
Reset the U12 (U12.reset), the safe state; it takes no input

Names as the driver declares them. Units, limits and the safety declaration are in the package's REFERENCE.md.

First-time setup

The OpenAI4S workbench with the OpenMHS lab, from a source checkout:

shell
# OpenAI4S workbench with the OpenMHS lab (source checkout)
git clone --recursive https://github.com/PKU-YuanGroup/OpenAI4S.git
cd OpenAI4S && ./setup.sh && source .venv/bin/activate
openai4s lab add labs/labpy__lantz
openai4s serve        # open the Lab tab

The standalone endpoint and the MCP server need only an OpenMHS clone and Python 3.10 or later. More in the market's getting-started guide and on the OpenAI4S host page.

Source and evidence

Upstream
labpy/lantz
Pinned commit
3e878e3f765a
Licence
BSD-3-Clause
Stars
139
Evidence
contract_checked on the fake backend
Backends
fake, hardware

The driver package MHS/drivers/labs/labpy__lantz wraps the upstream code at the pinned commit. Its REFERENCE.md documents the full contract: every value, action, unit, limit and the safety declaration.