While riding through town, cyclists experience varied air quality conditions far beyond what fixed sensors can detect. So the SODAQ AIR, mounted on the handlebars, was designed to measure air quality while the user pedals.
In 2017 the AIR became part of the Snuffelfiets project, collaborating with the Province of Utrecht, data specialist Civity, and the Dutch National Institute for Public Health and Environment (RIVM).
At the end of 2018, ten cyclists rode the first Snuffelfiets prototype on the road. The initial prototype testing was well received. In June 2019, the number of cyclists was increased to 500The participants covered 750,000 kilometers and collected 20 gigabytes of air quality data over 18 months.
Portable AIR quality monitors have since gained popularity in Norway, Sweden, and parts of Italy and France. In addition, the innovation was introduced by the Dutch Ministry of Foreign Affairs in several countries that want to monitor their air quality. This prompted SODAQ to continue working on the prototype.
WiTheew smaller, smarter sensor version has been developed with a new mounting system, making this AIR the most user-friendly model to date. Every ten seconds, the device, which is both mobile and stationary, measures particulate matter, temperature, and humidity. In addition, LEDs indicate the air quality on the sensor. On an hourly basis, this data is transmitted to the global map via LTE-M/NB-IoT networks, where both individual and collective results can be viewed.
The new AIR model is simpler to set up and remove than the previous model. In addition, users can customize Air to act as a rest sensor when the bike is not in use. The device is powered by a supercapacitor rather than a battery.
On November 16th, the company will launch the AIR on the crowdfunding platform Kickstarter to ensure that the device reaches people on an individual level. There is currently no word on pricing or whether data charges will be imposed. For more information, visit the company’s website.
Source: SODAQ
