TinZr: A compact wireless ESP32-C3 platform for multi-modal physiological sensor integration and data acquisition
Ludvik Alkhoury, Moore Tony, Petras Swissler, N. Jeremy Hill, Sudhin A. Shah, Moshe Kam · HardwareX · 2026
The TinZr is a compact, ESP32C3-based microcontroller that measures 25mm x 25mm. It can act as a wearable controller designed for multimodal physiological signal acquisition and real-time processing in research and prototyping applications. With its default firmware, TinZr operates as a configurable, stand-alone wearable data logger and wireless streaming device, enabling acquisition of inertial and physiological signals during naturalistic human movement. TinZr integrates an onboard inertial measurement unit (3-axis accelerometer and 3-axis gyroscope), battery management circuitry, Wi-Fi and Bluetooth Low Energy (BLE) connectivity, a microSD card reader, and multiple GPIO interfaces supporting digital, analog, I²C, SPI, and UART peripherals. Its small footprint allows it to be embedded into wrist-worn, clip-on, or strap-mounted form factors suitable for extended wear. TinZr is an open-source hardware microcontroller (per OSHWA certification number US002796). All production materials, including printed circuit board (PCB) design files, firmware, Arduino libraries, 3D-printable enclosure models, component lists, and example applications, are openly provided at https://github.com/ludvikalkhoury/TinZr. A dedicated Arduino library, TinZrConnect, is also included to simplify programming, device configuration, and integration with existing wearable and experimental systems. Together, TinZr’s compact design, wireless flexibility, onboard storage, and open-source accessibility make it a versatile solution for wearable sensing, physiological research, and rapid prototyping. The lead designer can be reached at [email protected]