Open‑source air quality testing for one's home and community
airBuddy is a small, open‑source air quality testing device. Version 2.1 is built on a Rasberry Pi Pico W and is compapticle with ESP32 boards.
The airBuddy let's one test and track the air quality in one's home-- and later one's community. The project uses super inexpensive and sensor components that are available just about anywhere, so that just about anyone can put it togeter.
With one press of a button, airBuddy:
- Measures temperature & humidity
- Reads eCO₂ (equivalent CO₂) and TVOC (total volatile organic compounds)
- Estimates overall air quality
- Displays the results on a compact OLED screen
- Logs readings to a local data file for long‑term tracking
The goal is simple:
If people can measure their air, they can demand better air.
airBuddy is designed to be:
- Affordable
- Hackable
- Community‑deployable
- Fully open source
A quick snapshot of where AirBuddy has been — and where it’s heading next.
-
✅ AirBuddy 1.0 — Raspberry Pi Zero
First working prototype. Proof of concept achieved. -
❌ AirBuddy 2.0 — ESP32
Attempted redesign. Architecture and constraints didn’t hold up. -
🚧 AirBuddy 2.1 — Raspberry Pi Pico
Current active build. Modular sensors, cleaner power, tighter firmware. -
✅ AirBuddy 3D-Printed Casing
Functional enclosure completed and tested. -
🚧 AirBuddy Wooden Casing
Handcrafted, natural-material enclosure in development. -
⏭ AirBuddy 2.2 — ESP32 (Revisited)
Planned revisit with lessons learned from Pico architecture. -
🟡 air.earthen.io API — Data Logging & Sync
Backend logging system initiated; schema and endpoints underway. -
🟡 air.earthen.io Home Dashboard
Backend logging system initiated; schema and endpoints underway. -
🟡 air.earthen.io Community Dashboard
Backend logging system initiated; schema and endpoints underway.