Design and construction of microcontroller-based exhaust emission measurement equipment for freight transportation

Abstract

Exhaust emissions from motor vehicles, especially freight transportation, are one of the main causes of air pollution in cities. This research aims to develop a portable and low-cost microcontroller-based vehicle emission measurement system. The system uses Arduino Uno with MQ-7 and MQ-2 sensors to detect carbon monoxide (CO) and hydrocarbons (HC) concentrations in real-time, with the measurement results displayed on the liquid crystal displays (LCD) screen. Validation is carried out by comparing the measurement results of the tool with a calibrated gas analyzer as a standard tool. The test results showed an error rate of 0.29%–1.79% for CO and 1.85%–3.84% for HC, as well as sensor stability after about 360 seconds of heating. With its compact design, easy to operate, and low cost, this system has the potential to be an alternative vehicle emission monitoring tool for field inspection and testing activities at vehicle workshops.