At the recent "2026 China Scanning Probe Microscopy Conference & 3rd Symposium on Advanced Materials and Quantum Science," ZEPTOOLS officially unveiled its independently developed Birdy™ Hummingbird research-grade atomic force microscope. Guided by the philosophy of "empowering scientific innovation through precision measurement," the all-new Birdy™, with its core principles of "simple to use, intelligent automation, and precise and reliable," brings a brand-new solution for nanoscale morphology and property testing.

The design of Birdy™ is inspired by the hummingbird in nature. Just as the hummingbird maintains extreme stability and hovering during high-speed flight, Birdy™ combines intelligent automation with high-precision control, aiming to deliver outstanding stability and convenience in complex micro-nano testing environments, allowing users to "focus on research, not on operation." To fundamentally transform the pain point of tedious operation in traditional atomic force microscopes, Birdy™ achieves an extremely simplified workflow. Users need only three simple steps—"install probe, place sample, and click start"—to initiate one-click automatic scanning. Even novice users without extensive experience can quickly obtain high-quality, high-fidelity nanoscale images through the intelligent process.

In terms of hardware architecture and intelligent design, Birdy™ incorporates a number of innovative technologies.

Magnetic Probe, Easier Replacement: Magnetic probe design, no tools required, place it and it automatically aligns and locks in place, completing replacement in seconds.
Orthogonal XY Scanning, No Bow, No XY-Z Coupling: Truly orthogonal XY scanning mechanism eliminates scanning bow errors and XY-Z coupling, faithfully reproducing sample morphology.
LVDT Closed-Loop Z-axis, Ultra-Low Noise: High-performance LVDT closed-loop Z-axis, ultra-low noise, ultra-high linearity, precise nanometer-scale displacement control, for more stable and reliable imaging.
Intelligent Software, One-Click Complete Scanning: Intelligent software with guided operation, completing the entire process from calibration to imaging with one click. Automatically optimizes parameters, making complex operations simple and efficient.

To meet the research needs of multiple disciplines, Birdy™ is equipped with an active vibration isolation stage and an acoustic enclosure, along with a built-in high-definition color optical observation system. It flexibly supports various operating modes, including contact mode, tapping mode, and phase imaging mode. Whether in the structural characterization of semiconductor devices, optoelectronic thin films, biological macromolecules, or various micro-nano materials, Birdy™ demonstrates stable and excellent measurement performance.

In addition, the conference also featured the release of ZEPTOOLS' newly independently developed ZLS1000 STM controller. As a high-performance control system for scanning tunneling microscopy, the ZLS1000 features excellent signal acquisition and drive control capabilities, capable of precisely capturing extremely weak signals. With its outstanding low-noise, high-stability control performance and robust driving and adaptability, the controller is well-suited for microscopic testing needs in complex environments.

To date, the ZLS1000 has achieved excellent application results in the characterization of cutting-edge materials, including monolayer and bilayer borophene, Moiré patterns of FeSe thin films, and organic molecular adsorption.

ZEPTOOLS has long been deeply engaged in the R&D and manufacturing of high-end scientific instruments in the micro-nano field. The launch of the Birdy™ Hummingbird research-grade atomic force microscope and the ZLS1000 STM controller marks another important milestone for ZEPTOOLS in the field of precision measurement. In the future, ZEPTOOLS will continue to uphold independent innovation, continuously optimizing product performance and service experience, and providing advanced, reliable micro-nano testing equipment and technical support to scientific research and industrial users worldwide.