MyoWare 2.0 Muscle Sensor Gains Wireless Connectivity with SparkFun's New Shield
Stream muscle activity via Bluetooth Low Energy with this shield and sensor combination.
SparkFun has announced a new product collaboration with Advancer Technologies, the makers of the MyoWare 2.0 Muscle Sensor. The new board — the MyoWare 2.0 Wireless Shield — adds Bluetooth connectivity, enabling wireless muscle sensing measurements.
Advncer's MyoWare 2.0 Muscle Sensor is a compact three-electrode electromyography (EMG) sensor board that measures the electrical activity of a stimulated muscle. Until now, the MyoWare sensor relied on wired connections to share muscle activity data with computers.
SparkFun's MyoWare 2.0 Wireless shield uses an ESP32-WROOM module for wireless connectivity. The ESP32-WROOM module supports both Wi-Fi and Bluetooth Low Energy (BLE.) However, SparkFun's demonstrations and examples only support BLE communication.
Wired connectivity includes two Qwiic ports for expanding the measurement system with additional peripherals, such as an air quality sensor. The shield has a 40 milliamp-hour LiPo battery with a charging circuit for tether-free operation. The USB-C connection provides data and charging. The MyoWare 2.0 Wireless shield uses a polymer resettable PTC fuse for additional power protection.
A complete measurement system consists of three pieces. A MyoWare 2.0 Muscle Sensor connects to the MyoWare 2.0 Wireless Shield via low-profile pogo pins. The shield connects wirelessly to a BLE receiver device. Optionally, you can use up to four Sensor+Wireless Shield combinations to monitor multiple muscles simultaneously.
SparkFun cautiously reminds users that MyoWare 2.0 products are not certified medical devices.
MyoWare and the Wireless Shield are not intended for use in the diagnosis of disease or other conditions, or in the cure, mitigation treatment, or prevention of disease, in a man or other animals.
SparkFun's MyoWare 2.0 Wireless Shield is available for $26.95 before shipping. It includes a LiPo battery, which may mean some shipping limitations. The MyoWare 2.0 Muscle Sensor is sold separately for $39.95 before shipping. SparkFun says that a portion of the wireless shield sales go back to Advancer Technologies.