Main Goal
Detect possible anxiety attacks through heart rate monitoring.
Main Hardware
Seeed XIAO ESP32-C6, MAX30102 and vibration motor.
Final Output
A wearable bracelet capable of guiding breathing exercises in real time.
Fab Academy 2026
Defining the purpose, impact, materials, processes and evaluation criteria of my wearable device for anxiety detection and breathing guidance.
Detect possible anxiety attacks through heart rate monitoring.
Seeed XIAO ESP32-C6, MAX30102 and vibration motor.
A wearable bracelet capable of guiding breathing exercises in real time.
My final project is a wearable bracelet that continuously monitors the user's heart rate in real time using an optical sensor.
The system will first create a personal baseline by measuring the user's average heart rate while they are calm. Once this baseline is established, the bracelet will continuously compare the current heart rate against the normal value.
The goal is to detect possible anxiety attacks. During an anxiety episode, a person's heart rate can increase significantly even when they are not performing physical activity.
To reduce false positives, the system will include a mechanism to identify when the user is exercising so that normal increases caused by physical activity are not interpreted as anxiety.
When the bracelet detects a possible anxiety attack, it will guide the user through breathing exercises designed to help regulate their heart rate and reduce anxiety symptoms.
Uses a vibration motor to guide the breathing exercises.
Uses visual light patterns to indicate breathing rhythm.
Provides notifications and breathing guidance through a smartphone.
Several commercial products already use biometric monitoring technologies for health and wellness purposes. I researched these solutions to better understand their strengths and limitations.
Devices such as Apple Watch, Samsung Galaxy Watch and Garmin use PPG sensors to monitor heart rate, stress and physical activity.
Cost range: $2,000 - $8,000 MXN.
Biofeedback system that combines heart monitoring and breathing exercises to improve emotional regulation.
Approximate cost: $4,330 MXN.
Compact wearable devices that measure heart rate, sleep quality and blood oxygen levels.
Examples include Oura Ring and Samsung Galaxy Ring.
Free application that helps users manage anxiety through breathing exercises and cognitive behavioral therapy techniques.
To better understand the problem I am trying to solve, I visited the Psychology Department at IBERO Puebla and discussed the project with faculty members.
They helped me understand how anxiety attacks affect people and what physiological changes typically occur during those episodes.
I also spoke with several people close to me who experience anxiety attacks. Their feedback helped me evaluate whether the proposed solution would be useful and practical.
Psychology Department at IBERO Puebla and people who experience anxiety attacks.
MAX30102 and Seeed XIAO ESP32-C6 technical documentation.
SparkFun MAX30102 library and related development resources.
Custom flexible PCB for wearable integration.
Comfortable wearable structure for daily use.
3D printed enclosure to improve skin contact and signal quality.
Application for notifications, configuration and monitoring.
Fab Lab Inventory
Included
Amazon Mexico
$67.51 MXN
Electronics Store
$29 MXN
Electronics Store
$90 MXN
Amazon / Fab Lab
$200 - $300 MXN
Fabric Store
To be defined
The bracelet must reliably detect significant increases in heart rate.
The vibration motor, LED and app notifications must activate correctly.
The device should be compact, lightweight and comfortable to wear.
The bracelet should adapt to different users through baseline calibration.