MyoWare 2.0 Sensor Range Boosts Performance, Reliability, and Accessibility of EMG Sensing
Compact three-electrode sensor boards allow for direct connection and battery power, making them ideal for self-contained wearables.
SparkFun has begun stocking the next-generation MyoWare 2.0 electromyography (EMG) muscle sensors range, promising improved performance and reliability — and including a wealth of add-ons to help get you started.
"MyoWare has redesigned their muscle sensor from the ground up with a new easy-to-use design and upgraded it with the latest and greatest chipset, which improves sensor performance and reliability," claims SparkFun's Chris McCarty of the new launch.
"From robots to video games, MyoWare Muscle Sensors are used to control a wide array of devices using the electric potential of your own muscles."
The heart of the range is the MyoWare 2.0 Muscle Sensor, a triangular device that supports three electrodes with a direct-mount option and which can be expanded through the use of add-on shield boards. To prove it, there's the MyoWare 2.0 Power Shield with 40mAh battery and the Link Shield to connect up to six Muscle Sensor boards to an Arduino Uno or pin-compatible microcontroller board via the Arduino Shield.
There's also an LED Shield, which includes the same 40mAh battery as the Power Shield but with the addition of a USB Type-C connector for charging and an on-board blue 10-segment bar graph LED for on-device visualization.
That takes advantage of a key feature of the MyoWare 2.0 board: Its small size supports wearable use, where electrodes are connected straight onto the board without an intervening wire and then the whole device mounted to the target muscle. For those who'd prefer a more traditional approach, the optional Cable Shield adds a 3.5mm TRS jack for use with an optional three-sensor electrode cable.
All devices are in-stock now on the SparkFun store, with the MyoWare 2.0 Muscle Sensor priced at $39.95 before volume discounts and add-on shields starting at $5.95 for the Cable Shield. An optional Reference Cable is also available, at $1.25, which improves the sensor readings by attaching an electrode to a non-muscle or non-target-muscle region of the body.