PiCUA gives AI agents control over computer power - even when the computer is turned off.

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What is ATX Power?

ATX power refers to the standard way computers turn on, off, and restart. PiCUA can control this at the hardware level, which means it works even when the computer’s operating system has crashed.

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Power Commands

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Turn Computer On

Start the computer from a completely powered-off state. Command: power on
  • Turns the computer on
Command: power on --wait
  • Turns computer on and waits for it to start

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Turn Computer Off

Safely shut down the computer. Command: power off
  • Turns the computer off
Command: power off --force
  • Forces immediate shutdown

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Restart Computer

Restart the computer without turning it completely off. Command: power reset
  • Restarts the computer
Command: power reset --wait
  • Restarts and waits for boot

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Power Cycle

Turn off completely, then turn back on. Command: power cycle
  • Turns off, waits, then turns on
Command: power cycle --wait
  • Completes cycle and waits for boot

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Power Status

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Check Power State

See if the computer is currently on or off. Command: power status
  • Shows current power state
Command: power info
  • Shows detailed power information

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Real-World Examples

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Server Recovery

power status
if power is off then
  power on --wait
  wait "Login" 30000
  type admin
  press Tab
  type password
  press Enter
end

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System Maintenance

power off
wait 10000
power on --wait
wait "Ready" 60000

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Crash Recovery

if find "Error" then
  power reset --wait
  wait "Welcome" 45000
end

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Scheduled Restart

power cycle --wait
wait "System Ready" 60000
screenshot --save after_restart.png

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How It Works

  1. AI Agent decides power action needed
  2. PiCUA sends power command to hardware
  3. Hardware controls computer’s power supply
  4. Computer responds to power commands
  5. AI Agent monitors power status

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Why This Matters

  • Hardware Level Control: Works even when computer crashes
  • Remote Power Management: Control computers anywhere
  • Automatic Recovery: AI can fix crashed systems
  • Scheduled Operations: Power on/off at specific times
  • Emergency Control: Force shutdown if needed

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Safety Features

  • Confirmation Required: Critical power actions need approval
  • Status Monitoring: Always check power state before acting
  • Wait Options: Give computer time to respond
  • Error Handling: Safe fallbacks if commands fail

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Next Steps