Colibri Platform™
Your Experiment.
Your Data. Your Workflow.
Hummingbird's software and open data platform for in-situ TEM, SEM, and X-Ray microscopy
Control the experiment, connect the workflow, and keep your data open to the tools your research requires.
Colibri Platform™ is Hummingbird Scientific’s open software and data platform for in situ microscopy. Within the platform, Hummingbird Control™ operates and monitors Hummingbird hardware, while Hummingbird Connect™ supports verified and project-specific integrations with OEM and customer software environments. Colibri is also built around an open approach to using experimental data across open-source tools, institutional systems, Python workflows, and future AI environments.
This allows laboratories to use Hummingbird experiment-control and integration capabilities without rebuilding their wider microscope, analysis, automation, or data workflow around a single vendor.
The customer owns the workflow.
Colibri Platform™ Components
Colibri Platform™ includes three core areas: Hummingbird Control™ software, Hummingbird Connect™ OEM integrations, and open data workflows that let researchers use the tools and systems they already trust. Explore each of the pillars of Colibri Platform™ below.
Hummingbird Control™
Control and monitor the physical experiment
Hummingbird Connect™
Connect Hummingbird systems with OEM software
Open data management
Use your data in the tools and systems you choose
Control the experiment without closing the workflow
Some software platforms organize experiment control, data, analysis, and automation around one vendor environment. Colibri Platform™ takes a different approach.
Hummingbird provides experiment-control software, supported integration capabilities, and open experimental-data workflows while the microscope and customer-selected software environment remain central.
More than images
Modern in situ TEM, STEM, SEM, and X-ray experiments involve physical conditions that evolve alongside microscope acquisition.
Depending on the experiment, relevant context may include:
- Temperature
- Pressure
- Gas composition or flow
- Liquid flow
- Voltage and current
- Heating or cooling state
- Holder or controller status
- Stage position or tilt
- Sample, chip, or holder identity
- Calibration
- Alarms, errors, and manual interventions
- Timing and operator-defined events
Hummingbird Control™ operates and monitors these conditions through product-specific software. Where supported, experimental-state data can be exported or incorporated into wider workflows through Hummingbird Connect integrations and customer-selected tools.
Colibri Platform is designed so that Hummingbird software and data capabilities can participate in OEM, institutional, open-source, and customer-developed environments without requiring every part of the workflow to run through one Hummingbird application.
A customer-owned workflow
Colibri Platform is built around four principles:
Customer choice
Use the microscope software, analysis tools, automation methods, data infrastructure, and AI environments that fit the research.
Open data use
Use experiment data beyond the original control interface in customer-selected tools and systems where supported.
OEM compatibility
Keep the microscope manufacturer’s software central to microscope operation, acquisition, safety, and support.
Future readiness
Develop controls, data functions, interfaces, identity, timing, calibration, and motion capabilities that can support more advanced automation and AI workflows over time.
From experiment control to AI-ready workflows
Advanced microscopy software may help researchers identify regions of interest, select measurements, vary experimental conditions, coordinate stages and detectors, verify outcomes, and propose the next action.
Within Colibri Platform, Hummingbird Control operates and monitors the physical experiment. Hummingbird Connect supports integration with OEM and customer software where appropriate. Where supported, experiment data can contribute to customer-selected analysis, automation, and AI environments.
Capabilities depend on the Hummingbird hardware, microscope, interfaces, software versions, and project scope.
Explore AI-Ready TEM and SEM Workflows
Software Resources
Explore external software tools, research communities, and supporting resources used across microscopy workflows. These resources reflect the broader ecosystem beyond the Colibri platform.
Open-Source Software Ecosystem
TEM Software Publications
TEM Software History
Frequently asked questions
Build the workflow your experiment requires
Hummingbird Scientific develops experiment-control software, integration capabilities, and open data workflows for in situ microscopy. Tell us which microscope, Hummingbird system, software environment, and experimental outcome you are planning.
Our team can help identify the appropriate hardware, control software, integration pathway, and data requirements for your workflow.