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  1. Home
  3. Octopus: A Low-cost, Modular Environmental Sensing Platform For Makers.
  1. Home
  3. Octopus: A Low-cost, Modular Environmental Sensing Platform For Makers.

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BtM, a Low-cost Open-source Datalogger to Estimate the Water Content of Nonvascular Cryptogams
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Published on: March 25, 2019

Octopus: A low-cost, modular environmental sensing platform for makers.

Oluwatobi Oyinlola1, Åse Håtveit1, Chada Elalami1

  • 1Senseable City Lab, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, MA, USA.

Hardwarex
|June 22, 2026

View abstract on PubMed

Summary
This summary is machine-generated.

Octopus is an open-source hardware platform for low-cost environmental monitoring. This modular system empowers citizen scientists and educators with accessible tools for data collection and research.

Keywords:
ArduinoEnvironmental sensorsInternet of thingsLow-cost sensors

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Establishing an Octopus Ecosystem for Biomedical and Bioengineering Research
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Establishing an Octopus Ecosystem for Biomedical and Bioengineering Research
09:10

Establishing an Octopus Ecosystem for Biomedical and Bioengineering Research

Published on: September 22, 2021

Area of Science:

  • Environmental Science
  • Engineering
  • Computer Science

Background:

  • Environmental monitoring is crucial but often hindered by high costs and proprietary systems.
  • There is a need for accessible, adaptable tools for citizen science and environmental education.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To introduce Octopus, a fully open-source, low-cost hardware platform for environmental sensing.
  • To enable makers, educators, and citizen scientists to conduct environmental research.

Main Methods:

  • Designed a compact, custom PCB and 3D-printed enclosure.
  • Integrated Arduino-compatible microcontrollers and plug-and-play sensors (particulate matter, GPS, temp, humidity).
  • Ensured ease of assembly, modularity, and reproducibility with freely available design files.

Main Results:

  • Octopus devices can be built for under $100 USD.
  • The platform supports diverse environmental sensing applications.
  • Complete documentation and firmware libraries are provided.

Conclusions:

  • Octopus significantly lowers the barrier to entry for environmental sensing.
  • It offers an extensible and adaptable solution for hands-on research and education.
  • The platform fosters grassroots environmental monitoring initiatives.