Monitoring heart rate, or "batimentos cardíacos," is a common application in health and fitness projects. Arduino, with its versatility and ease of use, can be employed to create a simple heart rate monitor using a pulse sensor. This project is an excellent way to explore bio-sensing technology and understand how heart rate monitoring works.

Examples:

To create a heart rate monitor using Arduino, you will need the following components:

• Arduino Uno or any compatible board
• Pulse Sensor (e.g., Pulse Sensor Amped)
• Jumper wires
• Breadboard
• USB cable for programming

Step-by-Step Instructions:

1. Connect the Pulse Sensor:

   • Connect the VCC pin of the pulse sensor to the 5V pin on the Arduino.
   • Connect the GND pin of the pulse sensor to the GND pin on the Arduino.
   • Connect the Signal pin of the pulse sensor to the A0 pin on the Arduino.

2. Install the Pulse Sensor Library:

   • Open the Arduino IDE.
   • Go to Sketch > Include Library > Manage Libraries.
   • Search for "PulseSensor Playground" and install it.

3. Write the Arduino Sketch:

   Here is a sample code to read the heart rate data from the pulse sensor and output it to the Serial Monitor:

   #include <PulseSensorPlayground.h>
   
   const int PulseWire = 0;       // Pulse Sensor connected to Analog Pin 0
   const int LED13 = 13;          // The on-board Arduino LED
   int Threshold = 550;           // Adjust this value to your needs
   
   PulseSensorPlayground pulseSensor;
   
   void setup() {
    Serial.begin(9600);
    pulseSensor.analogInput(PulseWire);
    pulseSensor.blinkOnPulse(LED13);
    pulseSensor.setThreshold(Threshold);
   
    if (pulseSensor.begin()) {
      Serial.println("Pulse Sensor initialized successfully.");
    }
   }
   
   void loop() {
    int myBPM = pulseSensor.getBeatsPerMinute();
   
    if (pulseSensor.sawStartOfBeat()) {
      Serial.print("BPM: ");
      Serial.println(myBPM);
    }
   
    delay(20);
   }

4. Upload the Code:

   • Connect your Arduino board to your computer using the USB cable.
   • Select the correct board and port from the Tools menu.
   • Upload the code to the Arduino.

5. Monitor the Heart Rate:

   • Open the Serial Monitor from the Arduino IDE (Tools > Serial Monitor).
   • Set the baud rate to 9600.
   • Place the pulse sensor on your fingertip or earlobe.
   • Observe the BPM (Beats Per Minute) readings on the Serial Monitor.

This simple setup allows you to monitor heart rate using an Arduino and a pulse sensor. The project can be expanded by adding a display to show the BPM or incorporating wireless communication to send data to a smartphone or computer.