Labware inventory tracking and positioning device

A lab ware inventory tracking and positioning device, comprising:

• a deck having a planar or substantially planar top deck surface with a desired coefficient of friction, and having a bottom surface opposite the top deck surface;
• at least one carrier for receiving a lab ware item, said at least one carrier having a carrier magnet therein or thereon;
• a first guide bar disposed below the bottom surface of the deck;
• a second guide bar disposed below the bottom surface of the deck and positioned perpendicularly to the first guide bar;
• a cursor joined for movement along at least a portion of the length of the first guide bar, said cursor having a top part disposed over a bottom part, with said top part vertically movable between a push position and a pull position, said top part defining a cavity to receive a top portion of a cursor magnet, said bottom part defining a cavity to receive the cursor magnet and a coil around a bottom portion of the cursor magnet, wherein the top part of the cursor contacts the bottom surface of the deck when in the push position, and wherein a gap is established between the top part of the cursor and the bottom surface of the deck when in the pull position, so that the cursor magnet and the carrier magnet experience magnetic field attraction force through the thickness of the deck when the cursor is in the push position, and the carrier is movable upon the top deck surface in X-Y directions in direct relation to positions of the cursor in X-Y directions below the deck, and so that the cursor magnet and the carrier magnet experience magnetic field repulsive force when the cursor is in the pull position, such that the carrier no longer is movable in direct relation to the positions of the cursor below the deck;
• a source of electrical current to the coil in a first direction, with said electrical current reversible to the opposite direction;
• a first motor coupled to the cursor or a carriage therefor for controlling X-direction movement of the cursor;
• and
• a second motor coupled to the cursor or the carriage therefor for controlling Y-direction movement of the cursor.