WorldFamousElectronics/PulseSensorPlayground

1. Prepare your sensor

The current kit includes the TPU Stabilizer Ring, Velcro finger strap, ear clip, and transparent vinyl insulation dots. You'll also need a compatible development board, a USB data cable, and a computer.

Before skin contact, follow the ring or ear-clip assembly steps, including the clear front cover and the rear preparation for your chosen mount. The ring holds the sensor steady; it does not replace the preparation steps. The illustrated guides are also visible above.

2. Connect the three wires

For the Arduino Uno GettingStartedProject:

Using another board? Follow its example's analog pin and voltage instructions. PulseSensor needs an analog input (ADC); a 5V Uno wiring diagram does not apply to every board.

3. Hold it gently

After preparation, position the sensor with the ring, strap, or ear clip. Rest your hand, keep the cable from pulling, and use light, steady contact. Load the Getting Started example below and look for a repeating waveform before moving on to BPM.

1. Install Arduino IDE if you don't already have it.
2. Open Tools → Manage Libraries…, search for PulseSensor Playground, and click Install or Update.
3. Open File → Examples → PulseSensor Playground → GettingStartedProject.
4. Select your board and USB port, then upload the sketch. For other boards, use the matching board-specific example.
5. Open Tools → Serial Plotter and select 115200 baud for GettingStartedProject.
6. Hold the prepared sensor gently against your fingertip. Give the signal 5–10 seconds to settle; look for a repeating pulse wave and the built-in LED blinking as the signal crosses the threshold.

Ready for BPM? Open PulseSensor_BPM and follow the BPM tutorial.

Getting Started tutorial · Library and example guide

Open Signal Coach for a live waveform and guidance on sensor placement in desktop Chrome or Edge.

Upload the Web Serial example, close Arduino Serial Monitor and Serial Plotter, select 50 samples/s, then click Connect. The website walks you through setup.

Want to run it locally or change the code? See the full source and home-build guide.

The Getting Started Project

See your raw pulse wave in Serial Plotter and blink the built-in LED.

• Project Page

  

Calculate BPM

Calculate beats per minute (BPM) once you have a steady raw waveform.

• Project Page

  

Make a Sound with Your Heartbeat

Transform the heartbeat into a live "beep" with a speaker.

• Project Page

  

Move a Motor with Your Heartbeat

Make a servo motor pulse to your live heartbeat.

• Project Page

  

Connect Two (or More) Pulse Sensors

Use 2 or more Pulse Sensors on one Arduino.

• Project Page

  

Processing Visualizer

Visualize the pulse waveform and BPM from your Arduino in Processing.

• Project Page

  

Pulse Transit Time

Explore pulse timing differences with two PulseSensors. This is an educational experiment, not a blood-pressure measurement.

• Project Page

  

Build on the examples

• PulseSensor Playground function guide
• All example sketches
• Board-specific examples and library reference

Troubleshooting your signal

Start with the raw waveform in GettingStartedProject:

• Flat signal? Check power, ground, the analog pin, and the selected board and port.
• Noisy signal? Rest your hand, ease the pressure, reduce strong ambient light, and reseat the prepared sensor in the ring or strap.
• Extra or missed beats? Get a steady waveform first, then adjust the threshold in your example. In GettingStartedProject, it is Threshold; other examples may use THRESHOLD or setThreshold().
• Serial port busy? Close other serial tools before opening Serial Plotter or Signal Coach.

More setup help

Give and get feedback

For setup help, email [email protected] with your board, example name, wiring photo, and Serial Plotter screenshot. Report reproducible library bugs in PulseSensorPlayground Issues.