Advanced sensor projects for groups who have completed core strand work. Each project builds on ESP32 Sensing skills and can integrate with LoRa, Solar Power, and the shared Node-RED dashboard.
These projects assume you have already completed:
Monitor classroom air quality in real time — see the impact of ventilation, occupancy, and time of day
Wire the MH-Z19B to ESP32 via UART. Read CO2 in PPM. Display on OLED with a traffic-light indicator (green/amber/red). Publish to Node-RED dashboard.
Log CO2 levels over a full lesson. Open/close windows at set times. Graph the data and calculate how quickly CO2 drops with ventilation. Write up findings as a scientific report.
Deploy sensors in multiple rooms. Dashboard shows a school map with live AQ readings. Compare classrooms, corridors, and outdoor air. Add an alert system that notifies when a room needs ventilation.
Measure heart rate and blood oxygen levels — explore how exercise, rest, and breathing affect your body
Wire the MAX30102 to ESP32 via I2C. Read heart rate (BPM) and SpO2. Display live readings on OLED. Understand why finger placement and stillness matter.
Measure resting heart rate. Do 2 minutes of exercise (star jumps, jogging on the spot). Record recovery time back to resting BPM. Graph the recovery curve on Node-RED. Compare between group members (opt-in).
Design a wearable finger or wrist mount for the sensor. Add Bluetooth (ESP32 built-in) to send data wirelessly to the dashboard. Display a live ECG-style waveform on the dashboard.
Measure ultraviolet radiation levels and build a UV index alert system for outdoor safety
Wire the VEML6075 to ESP32. Read UVA and UVB values. Calculate the UV index. Display on OLED with a colour-coded warning level (green 0–2, yellow 3–5, orange 6–7, red 8–10, purple 11+).
Deploy the sensor outdoors (in weatherproof enclosure). Log UV readings every 5 minutes throughout a school day. Graph the UV curve on Node-RED. Identify peak UV hours. Compare cloudy vs clear days.
Combine with Solar Power strand: build a fully solar-powered UV monitoring station. Add LoRa for long-range deployment on the school field. Dashboard shows UV index alongside solar energy yield — exploring the relationship between sunlight energy and UV radiation.
Analyse water from different sources — measure what you can't see and understand what makes water safe
Wire TDS and temperature sensors to ESP32. Calibrate TDS with distilled water (baseline 0 PPM). Test tap water, bottled water, and a salt solution. Display readings on OLED and compare to WHO safe limits.
Add pH and turbidity sensors. Calibrate pH with buffer solutions. Test water from different sources around the school (tap, pond, rainwater collection). Build a dashboard showing all four water quality parameters.
Deploy a waterproof sensor node to continuously monitor a school pond or water feature. Log data over days/weeks. Track changes after rain. Send alerts if pH or turbidity goes outside safe ranges. Link with LoRa for remote deployment.
Choose the project that matches your group's interests and available kit.
| Project | Key Sensor | Approx. Cost | Difficulty | Best For |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 🍃 Air Quality & CO2 | MH-Z19B + MQ-135 | £15–25 | KS4 | Classroom deployment, immediate real-world impact |
| 💓 Heart Rate | MAX30102 | £3–6 | KS4 | Biology & PE links, student engagement |
| ☀️ UV Exposure | VEML6075 | £4–8 | KS3+ | Outdoor projects, pairs with Solar & LoRa strands |
| 💧 Water Quality | TDS + pH + turbidity | £15–30 | Stretch | Chemistry & Geography, fieldwork, most ambitious |