Introduction: Heartbeat Sensor Project

The purpose of this instructable is to allow yourself to build the project on your own. We’ll list all the hardware and software you’ll need. We’ll also post all our codes that we used to make this project run properly. Then we’ll give you a cable schematics so that you will be able to plug all the wires in the right spot.

1) List of equipment

- 1 Raspberry Pi (40€)

- 1 Arduino (24€)

- 1 heartbeat sensor (14,7€)

- 1 base shield (module groove) (9,7€)

- 1 battery (Output: DC 5V/1A) (10€)

- 1 USB A to B cable (9€)

- 1 computer with an internet connection

- 1 server host

- 1 led (0,1€)

- 1 resistor (120 Ohms) (0,3€)

- 1 micro SD card (8 GB minimum) (15€)

2) All the codes used during the development

· Python code

· C++ language


3) Software steps

- Download Raspbian Jessie, Win32 Disk Imager and PuTTY

- Put Raspbian Jessie in the micro SD card thanks to Win32 Disk Imager

- Insert the micro SD card into the Raspberry Pi

- Connect the equipment (you will find next point)

- After to have loading the different codes (Arduino and Raspberry Pi), start putty

- In Python, to change code: to write ‘sudo nano’

And to start this code: to write ‘sudo python’

- Use a website to display the data. For instance, in graphic as we did. The codes to create the website are in the ‘.rar’ file.

Step 1: The Base Shield Is Connected to All PIN of the Arduino

Step 2: The Micro SD Card Is Inserted in the Raspberry PI

Step 3: The Arduino and Raspberry Pi Are Connected Together by USB Cable a to B

Step 4: The Heartbeat Sensor Is Connected to the PIN 2 and the LED to the PIN 4 of the Base Shield

Step 5: The Battery Is Connected to the Raspberry Pi Power Plug

Step 6: The Final Result

The LED is lit when the sensor detects a heartbeat


1) The heartbeat sensor

2) The LED

3) The Arduino

4) The base shield

5) The battery

6) The USB A to B cable

7) The socket B for the USB cable

8) The socket A for the USB cable

9) The micro SD card

10) The Raspberry Pi power plug

11) The Raspberry Pi

12) The Ethernet socket

Step 7: Here Is the File With Different Codes


RémiD11 (author)2016-06-04

See you also the video of our project.

DIY Hacks and How Tos (author)2016-05-28

There are a lot of cool projects that you can do with a heart beat sensor.