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Room Activity Scanner

Room Activity Scanner is an embedded IoT solution designed for health and wellness monitoring through intelligent room activity detection and comprehensive environmental sensing. Built on the ESP32-S3 microcontroller platform, this system provides real-time monitoring of human presence, motion, air quality, and environmental conditions with a focus on low-cost implementation and power efficiency.

Key Features

Multi-Sensor Integration

Combines mmWave radar, Doppler motion detection, environmental sensors, and sound monitoring for comprehensive room activity analysis.

Real-Time Data Streaming

MQTT-based communication enables instant data transmission to cloud platforms and automation systems for live monitoring and alerts.

Room Automation Control

Integrated relay control system enables automated response to room conditions, controlling lights, fans, and other appliances.

Low-Power Design

Optimized firmware architecture and power management ensure efficient operation suitable for continuous monitoring applications.

System Overview

The Room Activity Scanner implements a modular, layered architecture for sensor data acquisition, processing, and communication:

[Sensor Layer] → [Data Acquisition] → [Processing] → [MQTT Communication] → [Cloud/Dashboard]

Core Components

ComponentDescriptionRole
YD-ESP32-S3Dual-core Xtensa LX7 @ 240MHz, 512KB SRAM, 16MB FlashMain processing unit, sensor interface, WiFi/MQTT communication
HLK-LD242024GHz mmWave radar sensorPresence detection via UART interface
RCWL-0516Doppler radar moduleMotion detection via GPIO
BMP280Environmental sensorTemperature and pressure via I2C
MQ-2Gas sensorAir quality monitoring via ADC
INMP441MEMS microphoneSound level monitoring via I2S
Relay ModuleElectromechanical relayDevice control via GPIO

Use Cases & Applications

Health and Wellness Monitoring

Elderly Care & Safety

Non-intrusive monitoring for seniors living independently. Detects presence, tracks activity patterns, and generates alerts for unusual behavior without compromising privacy.

Sleep Quality Analysis

Monitors motion, sound levels, and environmental conditions to assess sleep quality and identify disturbances for health optimization.

Healthcare Facilities

Patient room monitoring for presence detection, environmental compliance, and staff efficiency without intrusive surveillance.

Smart Building Automation

  • Energy Optimization: Automatic control of HVAC and lighting based on occupancy, reducing energy waste
  • Comfort Management: Maintains optimal temperature and air quality by triggering ventilation and climate control
  • Security Enhancement: Intelligent intrusion detection integrated with automated lighting and alert systems
  • Accessibility: Voice-free automation for individuals with mobility or communication challenges

Getting Started

Activity Monitor Firmware

Get started with the current implementation featuring HLK-LD2420 radar sensor integration, relay control, and MQTT communication.

Explore Activity Monitor →

Development Status

The project is under active development with core functionality implemented and ready for testing:

  • HLK-LD2420 Radar Integration: Presence detection operational
  • Relay Control: Manual and automated device control
  • ADC Reading: Gas sensor data acquisition
  • 🛠 MQTT Publishing: Basic functionality working, refinement in progress
  • 🛠 Sensor Calibration: Baseline establishment and drift compensation

Future Enhancements

Complete Sensor Suite Integration

  • BMP280 environmental sensor (I2C)
  • INMP441 sound monitoring (I2S)
  • Advanced calibration algorithms

Enhanced Connectivity

  • Robust MQTT with QoS levels
  • Secure TLS/SSL communication
  • Automatic reconnection and message queuing

Web Dashboard & Analytics

  • React + FastAPI + MongoDB stack
  • Real-time visualization
  • Historical data analysis
  • Multi-device management

Technical Foundation

Development Environment

  • Framework: ESP-IDF (Espressif IoT Development Framework)
  • Language: C programming
  • Platform: Ubuntu Linux
  • Target: ESP32-S3 (16MB Flash)
  • Communication: MQTT protocol
  • Connectivity: WiFi 802.11 b/g/n

Data Format

Sensor data is published in JSON format via MQTT for easy integration:

{
"device_id": "room-scanner-001",
"timestamp": "2025-04-10T13:45:00Z",
"presence": true,
"motion": true,
"temperature": 24.3,
"pressure": 1012.8,
"air_quality": 350,
"sound_level": 47
}

Open Source

This project is open-source under the MIT License, encouraging experimentation, customization, and community contributions.

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