Guide to Exporting Sensor Data from Serial Monitor to CSV

info

Author: Sohil Nagpal

Introduction

This guide provides step-by-step instructions on how to collect data from the MAX30102 sensor using an Arduino and export this data to a CSV file through the serial monitor. This process is essential for further analysis and visualization of the sensor data.

Arduino Setup

Sensor Code

Below is the Arduino code required to initialize the MAX30102 sensor and send its data (heart rate and oxygen saturation) to the serial monitor.

#include "DFRobot_BloodOxygen_S.h"

// Define the I2C address for the MAX30102 sensor
#define I2C_ADDRESS 0x57

// Create an instance of the DFRobot_BloodOxygen_S_I2C class for I2C communication
DFRobot_BloodOxygen_S_I2C MAX30102(&Wire, I2C_ADDRESS);

void setup() {
  // Initialize serial communication at a baud rate of 115200
  Serial.begin(115200);

  // Attempt to initialize the MAX30102 sensor
  while (false == MAX30102.begin()) {
    Serial.println("init fail!");
    delay(1000);
  }

  Serial.println("init success!");
  Serial.println("start measuring...");
  MAX30102.sensorStartCollect();
}

void loop() {
  // Retrieve the heartbeat and SPO2 data from the sensor
  MAX30102.getHeartbeatSPO2();
  
  // Print the SPO2 value to the serial monitor
  Serial.print("SPO2 is : ");
  Serial.print(MAX30102._sHeartbeatSPO2.SPO2);
  Serial.println("%");

  // The sensor updates the data every 4 seconds, so delay for 4 seconds before the next read
  delay(4000);
}

Python Script for Data Collection

Setup and Execution

Here's a Python script that sets up a serial connection to read the data from the serial port and saves it to a CSV file for later analysis.

# Save this as collect_data.py

import serial
import time

# Setup your serial port and baud rate. Replace '/dev/tty.usbmodemXXXX' with your actual device port
serial_port = '/dev/tty.usbmodemXXXX'
baud_rate = 115200

try:
    ser = serial.Serial(serial_port, baud_rate)
    time.sleep(2)  # Allow time for serial connection to initialize
    print("Connected to Arduino. Collecting data...")

    with open("output.csv", "w") as file:
        while True:
            data = ser.readline().decode().strip()  # read data from serial and decode it
            file.write(data + "\n")  # write data to CSV file
            print(data)  # print data to console

except serial.SerialException:
    print(f"Failed to connect on {serial_port}")
except KeyboardInterrupt:
    print("Interrupted by user, stopping data collection.")
finally:
    ser.close()  # Ensure serial connection is closed on exit

Conclusion

This guide provides a comprehensive method to capture sensor data from the MAX30102 and export it to a CSV file using Arduino and Python. This setup is ideal for those who need to collect and analyze physiological data for health monitoring or research purposes.

Introduction​

Arduino Setup​

Sensor Code​

Python Script for Data Collection​

Setup and Execution​

Conclusion​