BME688 ( manufactured by Bosch Sensortec) is the first gas sensor with Artificial Intelligence (AI) and integrated high-linearity and high-accuracy humidity and temperature sensors. The integrated gas sensor it's able to detect Volatile Organic Compounds (VOCs), Volatile Sulfur Compounds (VSCs) and other gases as carbon monoxide (CO) and hydrogen in the ppb (part per billion) range.
The new BME 688 sensor it's backward compatible with BME680. Additionally, to all features of the BME680, the BME688 has a gas scanner function. In standard configuration, the presence of VSCs is detected as indicator for e.g. bacteria growth. The gas scanner can be customized with respect to sensitivity, selectivity, data rate and power consumption as well. The BME AI-Studio tool enables customers to train the BME688 gas scanner on their specific application, like in home appliances, IoT products or Smart Home.
The gas sensor in the BM688 has a broad sensitivity and reacts to most volatile compounds as well as many other gases polluting indoor air. The intensity of the signal typically scales with the chemical reactivity of the gases. In contrast to sensors selective for one specific component, the BME688 is capable of measuring the sum of VOCs/contaminants in the surrounding air. This enables the BME688 to detect e.g. out-gassing from paint, furniture and/or garbage, high VOC levels due to cooking, food consumption, exhaled breath and/or sweating.
Bosch Sensortec BME688 sensor main features:
- ambient range for operation -40 ~ +85C, 0%-100% r.H., 300-1100hPa
- gas sensor major outputs (via BSEC) IAQ, bVOC & CO2 equivalents (ppm), gas scan results (%) & intensity level
- sensor to sensor IAQ deviation +-15% / +-15IAQ
- relative humidity accuracy tolerance / hysteresis +-3% / <= 1.5%
- absolute temperature accuracy +-0.5C (at +25C)
- pressure sensitivity error +-0.25%
More info: BME688 datasheet
In June 2019 we've released the first 6 environmental and air quality sensors belonging to the s-Sense I2C sensor breakout family. In the middle of May 2021, as soon as BME688 sensor become available, we released commercially our s-Sense BME688 breakout.
PN: SS-BME688#I2C SKU: ITBP-6003 BME688 I2C sensor breakout info
Hints:
- at first sensor usage, minimum 48 hours of "burn in" should be made. Later, at each usage, 30 min. of functioning should passed before sensor data may be considered as valid.
- IAQ (Air quality index), target gas scanner selectivity, VOC, VSC data and other BME688 features may be accessed using the Bosch Sensortec "BSEC fusion library".
- in order to avoid contamination, DO NOT touch the metallic casing of the BME688!!!
Next, I will show to you how to make the hardware setup and how to get raw sensor (temperature, humidity, pressure and the MOX gas resistor) values in Arduino - around 10-15 minutes.
Arduino BME688 sensor hardware integration (wiring)First, identify if your Arduino it's 5V or 3.3V compliant!The BME688 I2C sensor breakout it's shipped in default auto 3-5V compliant configuration. In a nut shell, wire as bellow:
HINT, for other ARDUINO boards:
- SDA (Serial Data) --> A4 on Uno/Pro-Mini, 20 on Mega2560/Due, 2 Leonardo/Pro-Micro
- SCK (Serial Clock) --> A5 on Uno/Pro-Mini, 21 on Mega2560/Due, 3 Leonardo/Pro-Micro
Bellow, BME688 sensor breakout wiring example with Arduino UNO [5V compliant]
- download the BME68x Arduino library from: here.
- unzip the library and install in Arduino libraries folder. Restart Arduino.
- Make a folder named "ssense_BME688_example". Copy the code from BME688 - read sensor data Arduino code, paste it one new file (or right click & save as) and save the file as "ssense_BME688_example.ino" in the folder created in previously.
- Compile and upload the code to your Arduino shield. The sensor data may be seen on Arduino Serial Monitor (set to 19200bps).
In the code we've included some sensor data interpretation (altitude calculation, in 3ways): very basic algorithm, NOAA based algorithm (function ported from BME280/BMP280 Arduino library) and CASIO altitude calculation implementation - most accurate altitude calculation with temperature compensated algorithm...
Last, but not least: IAQ (Air quality index), target gas scanner selectivity, VOC, VSC data and other BME688 features may be accessed using "BSEC fusion library" and other associated libraries from the Bosch Sensortec.
TUTORIAL PROVIDED WITHOUT ANY WARRANTY!!! USE IT AT YOUR OWN RISK!!!!
Comments