Steps towards XAFS beamline automation and remote access

Although remote access to beamline synchrotron facilities is now a common operation mode at macromolecular crystallography beamlines thanks to substantial efforts in automated processes for sample preparation and handling, experiment planning and analysis, this is still not the case for XAFS beamlines. Here the experience and developments undertaken at LNLS and Diamond in automation are described, in an attempt to tackle the specific challenges posed by the high variability in experimental conditions and configurations that XAFS measurements require. Remote access to XAFS beamlines is an attractive option to reduce costs and provide an access route for educational and collaborative purposes. Any degree of automation of the operations, even if partial and limited to routine procedures, allows simplification of the remote user interface with significant improvement in the overall beamline efficiency. Here, some useful steps towards achieving this goal are introduced and the experience in this regard at the XAFS beamlines at LNLS and Diamond is described.