Milos Rasic has developed an open-source Bluetooth heart rate monitor that can transmit heart rate data from the chest. The device uses an AD8232 for measurement, a Seeed Studio XAIO ESP32 for Bluetooth connectivity, and a single 3.7 V battery together with a boost converter to 5 V. Since the design does not include a charging controller, how the battery will be charged has been left to the user. The software is uploaded via the Arduino IDE.
Why it matters
The project’s open-source nature makes it possible to examine the hardware selection and software-upload process, which is directly relevant to anyone seeking to work on a similar setup. Transmitting heart rate data obtained from the chest via Bluetooth means the design needs to be evaluated not only in terms of its electronic components but also in terms of how it is used. The absence of a charging controller leaves battery management to the user, bringing a practical question about regular use and power safety to the fore. The key unresolved point is how reliable the data obtained with this setup is and within what limits the device can be evaluated for healthcare use; the available information does not provide verification on this matter.