UC2-ESP: A general-purpose framework for open-source microscopy control

Area of Science:

• Biophysics
• Optical Engineering
• Microscopy

Background:

• Custom optical setups for biological research face challenges in synchronizing hardware control.
• Commercial controllers for microscopy can be expensive and lack flexibility for open-source applications.

Purpose of the Study:

• To present UC2-ESP, a low-cost, open-hardware electronics system for controlling custom microscopy setups.
• To provide an accessible alternative to commercial controllers for microscopy hardware.

Main Methods:

• Utilized ESP32 microcontroller for a low-cost electronics system.
• Integrated control for stepper motors, DC motors, lasers (TTL/PWM), LEDs, and analog outputs.
• Implemented flexible communication interfaces (Bluetooth, USB-serial, HTTP) and a web server.
• Developed firmware for dynamic parameter reception, action execution, and complex control loops.
• Enabled haptic manipulation via a PlayStation controller and human-readable JSON commands.

Main Results:

• UC2-ESP successfully interfaces with diverse microscopy hardware, including motors, lasers, and galvo mirrors.
• The system supports custom pin configurations and multiple communication protocols for high flexibility.
• Firmware enables dynamic control loops for tasks like stage scanning and temperature regulation.
• Seamless integration with ImSwitch and Micro-Manager, alongside a browser-based control tool via Web Serial.

Conclusions:

• UC2-ESP provides a low-cost, flexible, and extensible solution for controlling open-source microscopy hardware.
• This open-source firmware empowers research groups to develop custom setups efficiently and expand functionality.
• Facilitates advanced microscopy applications through precise hardware synchronization and control.