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AirBeam3 User's Guide

AirBeam3 Features and Dimensions

Hardware Specifications

Weight: 6 ounces
Particle Sensor: Plantower PMS7003
Relative Humidity & Temperature Sensor: Texas Instruments, HDC1080DMBR
Bluetooth, WiFi & Microcontroller: Espressif, ESP32-WROOM-32D

4G Cellular & GPS: Quectel, LTE BG95-M3
MicroSD Card: OEM, 32GB Class 10 formatted to FAT32
Real Time Clock: NXP USA, PCF2129T/2,518
Battery: PKCell, ICR18650 3350mAh 3.7V

About AirBeam3

AirBeam3 is a palm-sized air quality instrument weighing six ounces that measures PM1, PM2.5, PM10, temperature, and relative humidity. Its weather resistant enclosure makes it suitable for indoor or outdoor use. It can communicate via BLE, WiFi, or cellular 4G and can be used as a stationary or mobile monitor. Users can map and graph the measurements from AirBeam3 in real-time using an Android or iOS device or the AirCasting website. AirBeam3 includes an onboard GPS, real-time clock, SD card, and battery so after configuration it can operate in standalone mode, i.e. without the need for any additional hardware, such as a smartphone. AirBeam3 is the most accurate and versatile portable air quality monitor on the market. Of the 75 PM2.5 measuring instruments evaluated by the SCAQMD AQ-SPEC program, AirBeam3 is the most accurate when both the field and lab evaluations are considered. AirBeam3 is open-source as is the AirCasting platform software.

AirBeam3 Instructional Videos


Weather Resistant

AirBeam3 is weather resistant not weatherproof. When used outdoors, care should be taken to protect AirBeam3 from direct exposure to rain, for instance, by hanging it under an eave. When temperatures exceed 100 degrees Fahrenheit, AirBeam3 should be shaded to prevent damage to the battery and AirBeam3 should never be charged in an environment where the temperature exceeds 110 degrees Fahrenheit.

Power

AirBeam3 has a 3350 mAh 3.7V rechargeable lithium battery that when fully charged can power the instrument for approximately 17 hours in Mobile mode and 31 hours in Fixed-WiFi mode. The battery charges via the USB-C Port, which can also be used to power AirBeam3 directly. The Battery Charging Indicator turns solid green when AirBeam3 is charging and turns off when AirBeam3 is either fully charged or unplugged. CAUTION: AirBeam3 should never be charged in an environment where the temperature exceeds 110 degrees Fahrenheit.

Battery Warning

AirBeam3 contains a lithium battery. Exposing AirBeam3 to extreme heat will degrade the batteries performance and could lead to overheating and fire. If the battery gives off an odor, generates heat, becomes discolored or deformed, or in any way appears abnormal immediately unplug and power off AirBeam3 and place it in a contained vessel, such as a metal box.

Power On/Off

To power on AirBeam3, press down on the Power Button. AirBeam3 is on when the Connection Indicator lights up. Push the Power Button a second time to power off AirBeam3.

Intake & Exhaust

While operating AirBeam3, keep the Intake and Exhaust free from obstructions.

Record Measurements – Mobile (Bluetooth) Session

  1. Download the AirCasting app from the Google Play store or Apple App Store.
  2. Launch the app and sign in or create a profile.
  3. Tap the “+” button at the bottom of the screen then tap “Mobile session” and follow the on screen instructions.

When recording a mobile session with AirBeam3, measurements are communicated once a second to the AirCasting app via Bluetooth. The device running the AirCasting app must stay within 10-20 feet of AirBeam3 to maintain the Bluetooth connection and receive data from AirBeam3. After recording a mobile session for more than 2 hours, your measurements will be integrated into 5-second averages. After recording a mobile session for more than 9 hours, your measurements will be integrated into 1-minute averages.

Record Measurements – Fixed (WiFi) Session

  1. Download the AirCasting app from the Google Play store or Apple App Store.
  2. Launch the app and sign in or create a profile.
  3. Tap the “+” button at the bottom of the screen then tap “Fixed session” and follow the on screen instructions.

When recording a fixed WiFi session with AirBeam3, the measurements are communicated once a minute to the AirCasting website via WiFi. The Android or iOS device no longer needs to be in proximity to AirBeam3 as it’s retrieving the data from the web via the Android or iOS device’s WiFi or cellular connection. AirBeam3 must be connected to the 2.4 GHz band of your WiFi network; it cannot connect via the 5 GHz band.

Record Measurements – Fixed (Cellular) Session

  1. Unscrew AirBeam3 enclosure, slide your activated Nano SIM card into the SIM card slot located directly above the power switch (insert the SIM card so the chip side is against the board and the clipped corner is oriented towards the power button), then screw AirBeam3 together again. To maintain AirBeam3's weather resistance, screw the bottom two screws tight before tightening the top screw into the aluminum standoff; do not overtighten.
  2. Download the AirCasting app from the Google Play store or Apple App Store.
  3. Launch the app and sign in or create a profile.
  4. Tap the “+” button at the bottom of the screen then tap “Fixed session” and follow the on screen instructions.

When recording a fixed cellular session, the measurements are communicated once a minute to the AirCasting website via the 4G cellular network. The Android or iOS device no longer needs to be in proximity to AirBeam3 as it’s retrieving the data from the web via the Android or iOS device’s WiFi or cellular connection. AirBeam3 data and messaging costs are approximately $25 per month when using a Ting SIM card.

Connection Indicator Color Key

When powered on, AirBeam3 will enter and remain in configuration mode for three minutes. During the configuration window, if you don’t connect to AirBeam3 via Bluetooth, AirBeam3 will load it’s last known configuration. To enter configuration mode again, simply turn your AirBeam3 off and then back on.

Standalone Mode

When recording a mobile session with AirBeam3, you can separate AirBeam3 from your Android or iOS device and continue recording, geolocating, and timestamping your measurements. To do this, tap the three horizontal dots located in the upper right hand corner of the session card, map, or graph and tap “Enter standalone mode”. After entering standalone mode, the connection indicator will blink yellow when you don’t have a GPS fix and blink orange when you do have a GPS fix. When you don’t have a GPS fix, your measurements will be pinned to your last know location. To get a GPS fix, move outside to a location with a clear view of the sky. In some instances, it can take 5-10 minutes before AirBeam3 gets a GPS fix. Note that an iPhone 8 or higher or an Android 8 or higher plus Bluetooth 5 device is required to utilize the Standalone Mode and Sync SD Card features.

Sync SD Card

Whenever your AirBeam3 is recording a mobile or fixed session, it will log data to its SD card. In instances where your AirBeam is connected to the app via Bluetooth (mobile sessions) or sending data via either the WiFi or cellular network directly to the AirCasting server (fixed sessions), the data on the SD card duplicates the data already submitted to and saved in the AirCasting database. However, if when recording a mobile session you enter standalone mode, or when recording a fixed session AirBeam3's cellular or WiFi connection is interrupted, you can sync AirBeam3's SD card to retrieve your data. To do this either a) tap the “finish recording & sync” button on your mobile session card; or b) tap the “+” button at the bottom of the screen then tap “Sync data from AirBeam3” and follow the on screen instructions. After syncing the session data from your SD card to the AirCasting database, the SD card will be deleted. Note that an iPhone 8 or higher or an Android 8 or higher plus Bluetooth 5 device is required to utilize the Standalone Mode and Sync SD Card features.

Temperature & Humidity Measurements

AirBeam3 measures the temperature and relative humidity inside the AirBeam3 enclosure. These measurements are not representative of the ambient temperature and relative humidity.

Acquire AirBeam3 Data via Serial Monitor

You can acquire AirBeam3 data via the USB-C Port using a serial monitor.

Programming

You can reprogram your AirBeam3 using the Arduino IDE.

FCC Compliance Statement

This device complies with part 15 of the FCC Rules. Operating is subject to the following two conditions: (1) This device may not cause harmful interference, and (2) this device must accept any interference received, including interference that may cause undesired operation. Caution: Modifying or tampering with internal components can cause a malfunction and will void FCC authorization to use these products.

AirBeam3 Performance Data

AirBeam3 is the most accurate and versatile portable air quality monitor on the market. Of the 75 PM2.5 measuring instruments evaluated by the SCAQMD AQ-SPEC program, AirBeam3 is the most accurate when both the field and lab evaluations are considered.

To create AirBeam3 calibration equations for PM1 and PM2.5 we used the laboratory test results from the AirBeam2’s AQ-SPEC evaluation, wherein AirBeam2 measurements were compared to measurements from a GRIMM Federal Equivalency Method instrument. Both AirBeam2 and AirBeam3 utilize the same particulate matter sensor: the Plantower PMS7003

To develop AirBeam3 calibration equation for PM1, we first reverted the AirBeam2s PM1 calibrations to get back to the sensor manufacturer’s default “ambient” PM1 measurements. Next, we fit the AirBeam2s default PM1 measurements against the GRIMM PM1 values by fitting a piecewise linear regression model at breakpoints (identified using ‘segmented’ package in R) to generate AirBeam3 PM1 calibration equation. After doing this, the newly fitted AirBeam2 PM1 values show highly linear agreement with GRIMM PM1 values; see below figures illustrating the fit before and after. (Note, in the figures below, the red line is the piecewise regression, and the dotted black lines depict a line with slope=1.)

PurpleAir Plots

Next, we fit the newly calibrated PM1 measurements from AirBeam2 against the GRIMM PM2.5 measurements (again using a piecewise linear regression model) to generate AirBeam3 PM2.5 calibration equation. We used the newly fit AirBeam2 PM1 calibration to fit the PM2.5 model since it performed better than using the AirBeam2 PM2.5 measurements. The newly fitted AirBeam2 PM2.5 values show highly linear agreement with GRIMM PM2.5 values; see below figures illustrating the fit before and after.

NYUSOM CAPS

Finally, since AirBeam2 PM10 measurements did not show good agreement with the GRIMM PM10 measurements gathered during the lab test, we instead fit a piecewise regression against the BAM Federal Equivalency Method instrument it was collocated with during South Coast Air Quality Management District’s field evaluation of the AirBeam2. However, after the calibration the agreement was still relatively poor, suggesting that AirBeam3 PM10 measurements are much less accurate than desired.

It should be noted that AirBeam3 calibration equations do not account for relative humidity. Prior academic research indicates high relative humidity can significantly impact the measurements from light scattering sensors. Also, given the geographic and seasonal variation in aerosols around the world and the variable response of light scattering sensors to differing aerosol compositions, AirBeam3 measurements will be more accurate in some settings than others.

We look forward to learning more about AirBeam3 performance as additional evaluations are performed. Please contact us if you undertake an evaluation of AirBeam3 and generate data that can be publicly shared as we would be happy to disseminate your findings via the AirCasting network.

AirBeam3 calibration equations were developed by Chris C. Lim, an assistant professor in the Department of Community, Environment, and Policy at the University of Arizona.