Bosch Sensortech BME690 8x shuttle board is a sensor board comprised of eight identical BM690 4-in-1 gas/temperature/humidity/pressure sensors capable of monitoring indoor air quality and detecting Volatile Organic Compounds (VOCs), Volatile Sulfur Compounds (VSCs), and other gases.
The obvious question is “What’s going on? Why would a board need 8 identical sensors?”. The board flyer isn’t overly specific:
… the shuttle board can be used to evaluate the signal outputs provided by the sensor itself as well as the additional outputs generated by the BSEC library for BME690
So let’s try to understand, starting with the specification from the BME690 sensor.
Bosch Sensortech BME690 specifications:
- Gas sensor
- Sensor-to-sensor deviation (IAQ) – ± 15% ± 15 IAQ
- IAQ Operating modes – 3 sec (LP) and 300 sec (ULP)
- Major sensor outputs – Index for Air Quality (IAQ), bVOC- & CO2-equivalents (ppm)
- Humidity sensor
- Range – 0…100%
- Response time – 1 s (τ0-63%)
- Accuracy tolerance – ± 3 % relative humidity
- Hysteresis – ± 1 % relative humidity
- Pressure sensor
- Range – 300…1100 hPa
- Relative Accuracy – ± 0.05 hPa
- Absolute Accuracy – ± 0.5 hPa
- Temperature coefficient offset – ±1.3 Pa/K (equiv. to ±10.9 cm at 1°C temperature change)
- Temperature sensor
- Range – -40…85°C
- Absolute accuracy – ±0.5 °C (0-65°C)
- Host interface – I²C (up to 3.4 MHz) and SPI (3 and 4 wire, up to 10 MHz)
- Supply voltage
- VDDIO – 1.2 … 3.6 V
- VDD – 1.71 … 3.6 V
- Current consumption (typical, average) @ 3.3V
- 2.2 µA at 1 Hz for h/T
- 3.1 µA at 1 Hz for p/T
- 4.2 µA at 1 Hz for h/p/T
- 50 µA at ULP mode for p/h/T/air quality
- 0.5 mA at LP mode for p/h/T/air quality
- 3.1 mA in standard gas scan mode
- Dimensions – 3.0 x 3.0 x 0.93 mm; 8-Pin LGA with metal
One potential reason to use multiple sensors could be to get better accuracy, as there’s some sensor-to-sensor deviation of ± 15% ± 15 for IAQ data. Getting multiple sensors would generate additional data points, which could be averaged to improve accuracy.
Another reason is that the BME690 sensors can be configured with different settings, such as gas heater profiles, sampling rates, or sensitivity levels, to classify different gas compositions at different temperatures. Having eight sensors enables developers to test multiple configurations concurrently on the same board to reduce the development time.
But the most important thing is probably that this data can be used to train AI models. The BME690 8x shuttle board is installed on the Application Board 3.1, which itself connects to a host through a USB cable. The board shows as a USB storage device, and you can retrieve the files and import them into the BME AI-Studio Desktop or Mobile app for further processing, notably to train the (BSEC) algorithm, and evaluate it before deploying it to the board. The documentation has the full details.
The BME690 is the new version of the BME688 sensor, which also had its own 8x shuttle board. If you prefer visual content, the video embedded below explains how to get started with the BME688 8x shuttle board, and I understand the instructions should be the same for the new model. It shows how to detect coffee beans, or more exactly, the gas emitted by coffee beans.
I expected the BME690 8x Shuttle board to be fairly expensive, but it only sells for $24.89 on Mouser and 29.28 Euros on Rukotronics. Double-check the product name before purchasing the board because Bosch Sensotec also offers the BME690 Shuttle board with a single sensor. The Application Board 3.1 adds another $87 on Mouser. Further information about the BME690 sensor and development tools can also be found on the product page.
Via Will Whang on X
Jean-Luc started CNX Software in 2010 as a part-time endeavor, before quitting his job as a software engineering manager, and starting to write daily news, and reviews full time later in 2011.
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