Project Hub /IoT & Connected Devices/Environmental & Weather Monitoring/Contactless IR Thermometer

Intermediate

ARDUINO

Project Specific

3 – 6 Hours

Partial Kit

Contactless IR Thermometer

Design an IR-based contactless thermometer using the MLX90614 sensor and an Arduino to measure body, object, or environmental temperature.

Originally published on ElectronicsForU

View original tutorial

Parts You'll Need

This project is sourced from another site, not written by us — this list is our best match of their components against what we stock, not a verified bill of materials. Always check the original blog (linked above) for the actual parts list before buying.

0.96 Inch I2C/IIC 4pin OLED Display Module White Rs. 349.00
Jumper Wire 10 Pin Male To Male 20cm Rs. 45.00
MB102 Adjustable Breadboard Power Supply Module (3.3V & 5V) for Arduino & Raspberry Pi Rs. 139.00
400 Points Mini Solderless Prototype PCB Breadboard High Quality Rs. 89.00
Jumper Wire 10 Pin Male To Female 20cm Rs. 45.00

Selected: Rs. 0.00

We don't carry yet: Arduino (unspecified board)
Temperature Sensor (generic)

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How It Works

The Contactless IR Thermometer system centers around an Arduino Uno, which coordinates communication between an MLX90614 infrared temperature sensor and an OLED display. The MLX90614 sensor measures the amount of infrared energy emitted by an object or person without requiring physical contact. It communicates these thermal readings to the Arduino using the I2C protocol, transmitting data for both ambient temperature and the targeted surface temperature. The Arduino board processes these raw digital values through specialized math libraries to convert them into usable units like Celsius or Fahrenheit. Once processed, the temperature data is sent to the OLED display via the U8g2 graphics library, which renders the numbers and labels visually for the user in real time. The entire circuit is powered by a stable 5V power supply, ensuring consistent operation of both the logic board and the optical sensor during continuous environmental or object monitoring.

Why Build This

Develop a practical Internet of Things (IoT) or environmental sensing device suitable for undergraduate engineering portfolios and capstone integration.

Implement non-contact temperature screening methods useful for clinical health checks, food safety compliance, and industrial thermal monitoring.

Gain hands-on experience designing embedded instrumentation systems that combine digital display output with precision optical measurement sensors.

Real-World Application

Useful for non-contact body temperature screening during health checks, checking food or water temperatures, and monitoring environmental or industrial heat sources.

Skills You'll Learn

I2C communication

sensor data interpretation

digital display rendering

embedded math processing

hardware circuit wiring

Safety Precautions

No specific precautions noted for this build — always follow general electronics safety practices.

Technology Tags

ARDUINO

MLX90614

IR SENSOR

OLED DISPLAY

U8G2

C++

TEMPERATURE SENSING

EMBEDDED SYSTEMS

Frequently Asked Questions

Why does the sensor need to be contactless?

The MLX90614 detects infrared radiation emitted naturally by objects and bodies, allowing it to calculate temperature from a distance without conductive heat transfer.

What libraries are required to make the display and sensor work?

You need the Adafruit_MLX90614 library to interface with the temperature sensor and the U8g2 library to drive and render text on the OLED display.

Can this project run on standard USB power from a computer?

Yes, a standard 5V USB connection providing power to the Arduino Uno is typically sufficient to run the board, sensor, and OLED display simultaneously.

Gallery

This page is part of Kitkraft's Project Hub — a curated collection of electronics & robotics projects gathered from the maker community to help students and hobbyists discover and learn to build. Kitkraft does not claim authorship of the original project, and makes no representation as to the accuracy, completeness or safety of third-party source material. The summary and "How It Works" explanation above are AI-generated, rewritten with reference to the original tutorial — not a reproduction of it. Full credit and a direct link to the original source are provided above. If you're the original creator and have a concern about how your work is represented here, please contact us and we'll address it promptly.

Kitkraft Project Hub — curated from the maker community, credited at the source.

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