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Meet OpenUC2 10x AI Microscope, Making Advanced Microscopy Accessible to Everyone
When using a traditional USB Microscope, what is your biggest pain? Complex optical setups? Manual focusing adjustment? Fixed design without any flexibility? Reliability on the USB cable for connection? No timelapse or autonomous operation? These are no longer the pain with the OpenUC2 10x AI Microscope. With the vision of being the Raspberry Pi of Optics, the OpenUC2 team got the inspiration from electronics rapid prototyping tools, and invented this modular, automated and tinyML-enabled microscope.
Meet OpenUC2 10x AI Microscope, The Raspberry Pi of Optics
OpenUC2 10x AI Microscope is a collaborative innovation between openUC2 and Seeed Studio that brings advanced, accessible microscopy to everyone. This “Raspberry Pi for Optics” features high-resolution imaging via an XIAO ESP32S3 with the OV2560 camera, precision motorized focusing, and a modular, robust design ideal for both field and classroom use. With Wi-Fi connectivity, browser-based control, and support for autonomous operations like timelapse imaging, it’s designed for educators, researchers, and hobbyists alike.
The complete microscope kit is easy to assemble, customizable, and part of a broader initiative to democratize sophisticated scientific tools, inviting users to join a community committed to open science and open innovation.
Key Features
- High-Resolution Imaging: Powered by XIAO ESP32-S3 with the high-resolution OV2560 camera sensor
- Precision Control: Motorized focusing mechanism for micrometer-precise adjustments
- Modular Design: Easily customizable with swappable objectives and additional modules
- Portable & Robust: Compact form factor perfect for field research
- Smart Connectivity: Wi-Fi enabled with browser-based control interface
- Autonomous Operation: Supports timelapse imaging and SD card storage
- Customized Firmware: TinyML for on-the-fly image processing directly on the device, integrating sensors and other hardware for automated experiments.
However, this briliant product concept comes a long way. According to OpenUC2 team, It all started with the idea of creating a simple microscope for studying differentiating macrophages in a cell incubator back in 2017. From the beginning, UC2 was designed to make optics more affordable, available, and accessible. Adding additional features back then and the increasing interest from the research community made the the UC2 system a global resource for building and understanding arbitrarily complicated optical systems.
By now, with this latest OpenUC2 10x AI Microscope, the users can build anything from an introductory setup to a complex, high-resolution microscope using OpenUC2’s injection-molded cubes, enabling the the rapid assembly of complex optical setups, not only in educational settings but also for professional use in industries.
“Our goal is to build an open ecosystem/platform where people can easily exchange ideas and develop solutions, not just in electronics but also optics. “ Benedict Diederich, CEO of OpenUC2 shares their goal for this new microscope. “It’s crucial to lower entry barriers, allowing users to work with ready-made modules that can be purchased from an online shop. “
Brought to Market by Fusion Co-Create Services
If we date back, this is not the first projects that we collaborate with OpenUC2, but it makes a very special one where Seeed Fusion worked closely with OpenUC2 to bring this impactful product to the market, now available at our official store and hopefully in our distribution partners’ network soon.
Seeed Fusion is dedicated to elevating your innovative ideas into products and solutions for various verticals. With the full range of open-source modules and industry-grade devices, expertise in product design, experience in production, and resources in glocal community and marketing. We’re your go-to partner from 0 to ∞. Co-Create with Seeed Fusion, you can leverage Seeed’s capabilities in Prototype, Produce, and Promote, ranging from custom design, manufacturing to selling, covering the full product lifecycle from idea to delivery and iteration!
Initially, Benedict built a modular microscope using the cube framework. To reduce costs, we comprehensively optimized the product’s structure, including:
- Structural optimization: Inviting professional engineers to optimize the overall structure design and select more optimal materials.
- Supply chain optimization: Matching the supply chain locally to find the best suppliers and reduce material costs.
- User experience optimization: Optimizing the product from application scenarios and user experience perspectives.
- Packaging design: Designing a delicate and environmentally friendly packaging box to enhance the overall product value.
After more than three months of close cooperation, we finally launched the XIAO microscope, a high-quality and cost-effective product.
When talking about the Fusion Co-Create Program, Benedict comments, “The Fusion Co-Create Program helped transform our initial cube-based concept into a concrete product. Seeed Studio guided us through various challenges, forming a nearly friendly relationship between their product managers, engineers, and our team in Jena. The geographical distance and time zone differences were never an issue—we even collaborated with German contacts in Düsseldorf. A high level of trust was built, and I would recommend this program to anyone looking to bring an idea to life.”
Order Now to Support OpenUC2' s Vision
Open UC2 team’s vision perfectly aligns with our mission at Seeed to make technology accessible for all. The openUC2 10x AI Microscope is more than just a microscope – it’s an invitation to join a community of innovators shaping the future of optical instrumentation.
Ready to explore the microscopic world? The OpenUC2 10x AI Microscope is now available for order at our webstore at $109. For the people who decide to support OpenUC2’s vision, we’re also offering an early bird discount of 10% off.
Type in the code OpenUC2 to enjoy the exclusive discount NOW as it’s a limited offer that expires on October 30, 2024.
If you’re interested in bringing this amazing invention to your community or country, please feel free to reach out us at maker@seeed.cc. Moreover, our Fusion Co-Create Program is dedicated to enabling more developers or teams like OpenUC2 to scale up their impactful designs, while they can get a licensing fee for each piece sold. If you also have a cool Seeeed-based project, that you want to bring to the market, feel free to reach out to us at fusion@seeed.io.
Last But Not Least: Meet OpenUC2 Team at Our Livestream
Be the first to know the story behind the Xiao AI Microscope! Join us this Friday for a live chat with Benedict, the mastermind behind this incredible device. Get a sneak peek into the development process and learn how Fusion Co-Create brought this innovative product to life.
Tune in to our livestream for exclusive deals! We’ll be giving away limited coupons on the Microscope for $30 and $100 coupons for our Fusion PCBA service. Don’t miss out on this amazing deal! Date: 25 Oct. 2024 02:00 PM GMT Join us on Youtube!!!
The post Meet OpenUC2 10x AI Microscope, Making Advanced Microscopy Accessible to Everyone appeared first on Latest Open Tech From Seeed.
