Each channel within the sensor has a different field of view, so not only can it detect a human, but it can also tell which direction the person is moving.

Technical Description

The onboard AK9753(sensor name) is a digital sensor giving you a 16-bit digital value over I²C. Each of the four sensors outputs the IR current in pico-amps. A PIR reading can vary from roughly -200 (no human present) to 1500 when a human is detected standing in front of a given channel, but it varies due to environmental factors and other heat sources in view.

Limitations/Features

1. Voltage: 1.7V to 3.3V
2. Extremely low current: 100µA

Skill

3- Competent

Links

https://github.com/sparkfun/Qwiic_Human_Presence_Sensor_Breakout_AK9753

https://www.sparkfun.com/products/14349

Examples

https://github.com/sparkfun/SparkFun_AK975x_Arduino_Library/tree/master/examples

The OpenMV M7 Camera is a small, low-power microcontroller board that allows you to easily implement applications using machine vision in the real world. The best part about the OpenMV is that it is not only capable of image capture, but also face detection, color tracking, QR code reading and plenty more. If you are looking for an economical camera module boasting multiple high-end features, look no further than the OpenMV M7!

Technical Description

The OpenMV can be programmed in high-level Python scripts (courtesy of the MicroPython Operating System) instead of C/C++. This makes it easier to deal with the complex outputs of machine vision algorithms and working with high-level data structures. You still have total control over your OpenMV M7 and its I/O pins in Python. We can easily trigger taking pictures and video on external events or execute machine vision algorithms to figure out how to control your I/O pins.

Parts

1. 1x OpenMV M7 Camera
2. 2x 8-pin Male Header
3. 2x 8-pin Female Stackable Header

Limitations/Features

1. Three I/O pins for servo control.
2. Interrupts and PWM on all I/O pins (there are 10 I/O pins on the board).
3. RGB LED and two high-power 850nm IR LEDs.
4. A full-speed USB (12Mbs) interface to your computer; your OpenMV Cam will appear as a virtual COM port and a USB flash drive when plugged in.
5. A μSD card socket capable of 100Mbs reads/writes, which allows your OpenMV Cam to record video and easily pull machine vision assets off of the μSD card.
6. An SPI Bus that can run up to 54Mbs, allowing you to easily stream image data off the system to either the LCD shield, the WiFi shield or another microcontroller.

Skill

4-Experienced

Links

https://cdn.sparkfun.com/datasheets/Sensors/LightImaging/STM32F765VI.pdf

https://www.sparkfun.com/products/14985

Technical Description

The EX8029 Stereo Camera from eYs3D is a depth-map imager controller and patterned IR illuminator capable of both color and point map output modes. Thanks to its dual cameras, this Stereo Camera is ideally used in applications involving motion and gesture control, field mapping, and 3D scanning. The best part about this module is the fact that it has been designed to be as straight forward and easy to use as possible for a stereo camera. Simply plug in the included USB 3.0 cable download the required files and start seeing things through the eyes of your new camera.

Limitation/Features

1. IR pattern Illuminator Wavelength: 850nm +/-10 nm
2. IR pattern Illuminator Number of Features: >10,000
3. Lens: 1LS1022G by AOET
4. Image Sensor: OV9714 by OVT
5. USB Bus Power: 5V/900mA by USB3.0; 5V/500mA by USB2.0
6. PC Connection: USB3.0 & USB2.0
7. Power Voltage: 5V
8. Operating Current With Patterned IR Illuminator: ≦350mA
9. Operating Current Without Patterned IR Illuminator: ≦280mA
10. Suspend Current: ≦15mA

Skill

4-Experienced

Links

https://www.sparkfun.com/products/14726

Technical Description

This is a simple, thumbnail-size RFID tag. These tags are great for sensing the presence, identification, etc., and they’re small so they can be easily sewn into clothing or inserted into enclosures. Each tag comes with a unique 32-bit ID code and is not reprogrammable. The carrier frequency of this tag is 125kHz, so it works great with our ID-2, ID-12, and ID-20 RFID readers.When this was tested this RFID tag with one of our ID-12 readers and measured a maximum read distance of about 32mm.

Limitation/Features

1. 32-bit unique ID – non-reprogrammable
2. 125kHz read frequency
3. EM4001 ISO based RFID IC
4. Manchester encoding
5. Diameter: 16mm
6. Thickness: 1.85mm

Skill

2-Rookie

Links

https://www.sparkfun.com/products/9417

Technical Description

The GP-20U7 is a compact GPS receiver with a built-in high performances all-in-one GPS chipset. The GP-20U7 accurately provides position, velocity, and time readings as well as possessing high sensitivity and tracking capabilities.

Limitation

The following are the features

1. 56-Channel Receiver (22 Channel All-in-View)
2. Sensitivity : -162dBm
3. 2.5m Positional Accuracy
4. Cold Start: 29s (Open Sky)
5. 40mA @ 3.3V

Skill

2-Rookie

Links

https://www.sparkfun.com/products/13740

Infrared (IR) break-beam sensors are a simple way to detect motion. They work by having an emitter side that sends out a beam of human-invisible IR light, then a receiver across the way which is sensitive to that same light. When something passes between the two, and its not transparent to IR, then the ‘beam is broken’ and the receiver will let you know.

Technical Description: 

Compared to PIR sensors, breakbeams are faster and allow better control of where you want to detect the motion. Compared to Sonar modules, they’re less expensive. However, you do need both emitter and receiver on opposite sides of the area you want to monitor.

Limitations:
The 5mm IR version works up to 50cm / 20″, so we need a lot of them to measure open space.

Skill:
Easy

Sample Sensor:
IR Break Beam Sensor:
https://www.adafruit.com/product/2167

Sample Exercise:

https://learn.adafruit.com/ir-breakbeam-sensors

Pressure sensor pads are electronic devices that capture physical force contact to generate some sort of a response. There is a truly endless amount of applications for pressure sensor pads, ranging from an input mechanism in a human-machine interface (HMI), a method to capture intruders in a force-sensitive security system, and beyond.

Technical Description: 

Limitations:
Expensive

Skill:
Easy

Sample Sensor:
FlexiForce A502 Sensor:
https://www.tekscan.com/products-solutions/force-sensors/a502

Sample Exercise:
https://www.tekscan.com/blog/flexiforce/how-create-pressure-sensor-pad

They’re often used to detect when a door or drawer is open, which is why they have mounting tabs and screws.

Technical Description: 

• Normally open reed switch
• ABS enclosure
• Rated current: 100 mA max
• Rated voltage: 200 VDC max
• Distance: 15mm max

Limitations:
Depending on the sensor, the amount of resistance may vary, as well as the maximum amount of pressure that can be applied.

Skill:
Easy

Sample Sensor: 

Magnetic contact switch (door sensor)
https://www.adafruit.com/product/375

Sample Exercise:

https://archive.codeplex.com/?p=netduinohelpers#Hardware%2fPushButton.cs

This is the Vernier Motion Detector, a simple sensor that can be used to collect position, velocity and acceleration data of moving objects. This Vernier sensor can be used to study the motion of walking individuals, bouncing objects, a swinging pendulum, or anything else that moves.

These Motion Detectors can measure moving objects as close as 15 cm in front of them and as far as 6 meters away with a resolution of 1 mm. These Vernier sensors are also equipped with a pivoting head to help the user gain a different angle of view of a moving object and a sensitivity switch to produce higher quality data.

Technical Description:

This Motion Detector emits short bursts of ultrasonic sound waves from the gold foil of the transducer. These waves fill a cone-shaped area about 15 to 20° off the axis of the centerline of the beam. The Motion Detector then “listens” for the echo of these ultrasonic waves returning to it. The equipment measures how long it takes for the ultrasonic waves to make the trip from the Motion Detector to an object and back. Using this time and the speed of sound in air, the distance to the nearest object is determined.

Limitation:

Range the sensor can cappure

Skill:

3 –  Competent

Sample Sensor:

https://www.sparkfun.com/products/12875