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Simplifying the OpenFlexure microscope software with the web of things

Simplifying the OpenFlexure microscope software with the web of things

Authors :
Joel T. Collins
Joe Knapper
Samuel J. McDermott
Filip Ayazi
Kaspar E. Bumke
Julian Stirling
Richard W. Bowman
Source :
Royal Society Open Science, Vol 8, Iss 11 (2021)
Publication Year :
2021
Publisher :
The Royal Society, 2021.

Abstract

We present the OpenFlexure Microscope software stack which provides computer control of our open source motorised microscope. Our diverse community of users needs both graphical and script-based interfaces. We split the control code into client and server applications interfaced via a web API conforming to the W3C Web of Things standard. A graphical interface is viewed either in a web browser or in our cross-platform Electron application, and gives basic interactive control including common operations such as Z stack acquisition and tiled scanning. Automated control is possible from Python and Matlab, or any language that supports HTTP requests. Network control makes the software stack more robust, allows multiple microscopes to be controlled by one computer, and facilitates sharing of equipment. Graphical and script-based clients can run simultaneously, making it easier to monitor ongoing experiments. We have included an extension mechanism to add functionality, for example controlling additional hardware components or adding automation routines. Using a Web of Things approach has resulted in a user-friendly and extremely versatile software control solution for the OpenFlexure Microscope, and we believe this approach could be generalized in the future to make automated experiments involving several instruments much easier to implement.

Details

Language :
English
ISSN :
20545703
Volume :
8
Issue :
11
Database :
Directory of Open Access Journals
Journal :
Royal Society Open Science
Publication Type :
Academic Journal
Accession number :
edsdoj.facc8c4dfa147d3b8d27bf5420c98b4
Document Type :
article
Full Text :
https://doi.org/10.1098/rsos.211158