Project Hub/Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (Drones)/Quadcopter / Multirotor Drones/ESP32 Touchless Temperature Scanner

Intermediate

ESP32

₹1,500 – ₹5,000

3 – 6 Hours

ESP32 Touchless Temperature Scanner

A touchless temperature scanner built with an ESP32 that measures body temperature via proximity, announces results via audio, and uploads data to ThingSpeak cloud.

Originally published by Somnath Bera on ElectronicsForU

View original tutorial

How It Works

The ESP32 Touchless Temperature Scanner operates by combining proximity detection with infrared thermal sensing to automate health screenings. When a person approaches the device, the HC-SR04 ultrasonic sensor emits high-frequency sound waves and measures the echo return time to calculate the user's distance. Once the user is within the optimal scanning range, the MLX90614 infrared temperature sensor takes a non-contact reading by detecting the infrared energy emitted from the subject's forehead. The ESP32 microcontroller processes these sensor inputs and determines whether the measured temperature falls within a normal healthy range. If a normal temperature is detected, an LED illuminates to provide visual confirmation. If a fever or elevated temperature is flagged, the system triggers a piezo buzzer for immediate attention. Simultaneously, the ESP32 routes digital audio data to the PAM8403 stereo audio amplifier board, which drives the 8 Ohm 3 Watt speaker to audibly announce the screening results to the user. Finally, the ESP32 utilizes its built-in Wi-Fi capabilities to upload the processed temperature and screening data to the ThingSpeak cloud platform for remote monitoring and logging, while system feedback and status details are visually rendered on the TFT ILI9163 display.

Why Build This

Design and deploy an automated, contactless health screening station suitable for deployment at university building entrances or laboratory access points.

Gain practical experience integrating diverse communication protocols and analog/digital peripherals, including I2C sensors, ultrasonic ranging, and audio amplification, on a single microcontroller platform.

Implement Internet of Things (IoT) data logging by connecting an edge sensing device to cloud analytics platforms like ThingSpeak via Wi-Fi.

Real-World Application

Automated health screening and fever monitoring at office entrances, community centers, and public facilities to assist in disease prevention.

Skills You'll Learn

I2C communication protocol

ultrasonic distance ranging

infrared temperature data acquisition

cloud data logging via Wi-Fi

audio amplifier integration

TFT display interfacing

GPIO and interrupt handling

Safety Precautions

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

Technology Tags

ESP32

MLX90614

HC-SR04

PAM8403

THINGSPEAK

IOT

TEMPERATURE SENSOR

AUDIO

WI-FI

Frequently Asked Questions

How does the MLX90614 sensor measure temperature without physical contact?

It detects the infrared energy naturally emitted by an object's surface, such as a person's forehead, and converts that thermal radiation into a calibrated temperature reading.

Why is an HC-SR04 ultrasonic sensor included if the MLX90614 measures temperature?

The ultrasonic sensor measures the user's distance to ensure that the temperature scanner only captures a reading when the subject is standing at the correct, accurate distance from the device.

Can the ESP32 upload data to the cloud without an external Wi-Fi module?

Yes, the ESP32 microcontroller features built-in Wi-Fi capabilities, allowing it to connect directly to local wireless networks and transmit data to the ThingSpeak cloud platform.