China creates world's first intelligent transmission electron microscope

The world's first intelligent transmission electron microscope system, Yuanyan-1, capable of operating autonomously, has been unveiled in Beijing. The development was carried out by scientists from the Dalian Institute of Chemical Physics under the Chinese Academy of Sciences (CAS). This was reported by Science and Technology Daily, a partner of TV BRICS.

The system performs all stages of analysis – sample transfer, imaging and data processing – in a fully automated mode without human intervention. This makes it possible to study the microscopic world with greater precision and clarity.

Transmission electron microscopes are key instruments for the development of new materials, energy technologies, chemical engineering and the biological sciences. However, for almost a century, the operation of such instruments has relied on manual control, resulting in low efficiency, subjectivity in results and difficulties in conducting quantitative analysis.

To address these challenges, the scientists joined forces with a research team from the Shenyang Institute of Automation. Together, they developed algorithms for a fully autonomous perception, analysis and control system for the intelligent microscope.

During the project, five key technological challenges were overcome: intelligent high-vacuum sample transfer, autonomous optical image adjustment, precise targeting of nanometre-scale objects, autonomous real-time image acquisition and analysis, and coordination of all subsystems.

This achievement marks a transition from “manual operation” to “AI-driven autonomous operation” in transmission electron microscopy, opening up new prospects for the intelligent application of high-precision scientific instruments.

It is expected to enable the large-scale acquisition of high-quality structural data to support the development of fields such as energy and chemical engineering, materials science and the life sciences.