In this exciting project, I demonstrate how to create a real thermal scanning camera using an Arduino Nano board, an AMG8833 thermal camera, and a 3.5-inch TFT LCD Module (SPI, 8 Pin).

DIY Thermal Imaging Camera with Arduino Nano & AMG8833 | Real-Time Heat Mapping code1.ino

#include <Wire.h>
#include <Adafruit_AMG88xx.h>
#include <SPI.h>
#include "Ucglib.h"

// Create an instance of the thermal camera
Adafruit_AMG88xx amg;

// Create an instance of the TFT display
Ucglib_ILI9341_18x240x320_SWSPI ucg(/*sclk=*/ 4, /*data=*/ 3, /*cd=*/ 6, /*cs=*/ 7, /*reset=*/ 5);

float maxTemperature = 0; // Variable to hold the maximum temperature

void setup() {
  Serial.begin(9600);
  
  // Initialize the thermal camera
  if (!amg.begin()) {
    Serial.println("Could not find a valid AMG8833 sensor, check wiring!");
    while (1);
  }
  
  // Initialize the TFT display
  ucg.begin(UCG_FONT_MODE_TRANSPARENT);
  ucg.clearScreen();
}

void loop() {
  // Read the thermal camera data
  float pixels[64];
  amg.readPixels(pixels);
  
  // Clear the screen
  ucg.clearScreen();
  
  // Reset max temperature for the current loop
  maxTemperature = 0;

  // Display thermal data on the TFT
  for (int y = 0; y < 8; y++) {
    for (int x = 0; x < 8; x++) {
      // Get the current pixel temperature
      float currentTemp = pixels[y * 8 + x];
      
      // Update max temperature if current temperature is higher
      if (currentTemp > maxTemperature) {
        maxTemperature = currentTemp;
      }
      
      // Map the temperature to a color (for example, blue to red)
      uint8_t color = map(currentTemp, 20, 40, 0, 255); // Adjust the temperature range as needed
      
      // Set the fill color
      ucg.setColor(255 - color, 0, color); // Color gradient
      
      // Draw a filled rectangle using drawBox
      ucg.drawBox(x * 40, y * 60, 40, 60); // Adjust box size and position
      ucg.setColor(255 - color, 0, color); // Set the fill color
      ucg.drawBox(x * 40 + 1, y * 60 + 1, 38, 58); // Draw a smaller box for fill effect
    }
  }
  
  // Display the maximum temperature on the screen
  ucg.setColor(255, 255, 255); // Set text color to white
  ucg.setPrintPos(10, 10); // Set position for the text
  ucg.print("Max Temp: "); // Print label
  ucg.print(maxTemperature); // Print maximum temperature
  ucg.print(" C"); // Print unit
  
  delay(500); // Update every half second
}

DIY Thermal Imaging Camera with Arduino Nano & AMG8833 | Real-Time Heat Mapping code2.ino

#include <Wire.h>
#include <Adafruit_AMG88xx.h>
#include <SPI.h>
#include "Ucglib.h"

// Create an instance of the thermal camera
Adafruit_AMG88xx amg;

// Create an instance of the TFT display
Ucglib_ILI9341_18x240x320_SWSPI ucg(/*sclk=*/ 4, /*data=*/ 3, /*cd=*/ 6, /*cs=*/ 7, /*reset=*/ 5);

float maxTemperature = 0; // Variable to hold the maximum temperature

void setup() {
  Serial.begin(9600);
  
  // Initialize the thermal camera
  if (!amg.begin()) {
    Serial.println("Could not find a valid AMG8833 sensor, check wiring!");
    while (1);
  }
  
  // Initialize the TFT display
  ucg.begin(UCG_FONT_MODE_TRANSPARENT);
  ucg.clearScreen();
}

void loop() {
  // Read the thermal camera data
  float pixels[64];
  amg.readPixels(pixels);
  
  // Clear the screen
  ucg.clearScreen();
  
  // Reset max temperature for the current loop
  maxTemperature = 0;

  // Display thermal data on the TFT
  for (int y = 0; y < 8; y++) {
    for (int x = 0; x < 8; x++) {
      // Get the current pixel temperature
      float currentTemp = pixels[y * 8 + x];
      
      // Update max temperature if current temperature is higher
      if (currentTemp > maxTemperature) {
        maxTemperature = currentTemp;
      }
      
      // Map the temperature to a color spectrum
      uint8_t red, green, blue;

      if (currentTemp <= -30) {
          red = 0; green = 0; blue = 255; // Blue
      } else if (currentTemp <= 0) {
          red = 0; green = map(currentTemp, -30, 0, 0, 255); blue = 255; // Gradient from Blue to Cyan
      } else if (currentTemp <= 100) {
          red = map(currentTemp, 0, 100, 0, 255); green = 255; blue = 255; // Gradient from Cyan to Yellow
      } else if (currentTemp <= 200) {
          red = 255; green = map(currentTemp, 100, 200, 255, 0); blue = 0; // Gradient from Yellow to Red
      } else if (currentTemp <= 300) {
          red = 255; green = 0; blue = map(currentTemp, 200, 300, 0, 255); // Gradient from Red to Magenta
      } else {
          red = 255; green = map(currentTemp, 300, 400, 255, 0); blue = 255; // Gradient from Magenta to White
      }

      // Set the fill color
      ucg.setColor(red, green, blue);
      
      // Draw a filled rectangle using drawBox
      ucg.drawBox(x * 40, y * 60, 40, 60); // Adjust box size and position
      ucg.setColor(red, green, blue); // Set the fill color
      ucg.drawBox(x * 40 + 1, y * 60 + 1, 38, 58); // Draw a smaller box for fill effect
    }
  }
  
  // Display the maximum temperature on the screen
  ucg.setColor(255, 255, 255); // Set text color to white
  ucg.setPrintPos(10, 10); // Set position for the text
  ucg.print("Max Temp: "); // Print label
  ucg.print(maxTemperature); // Print maximum temperature
  ucg.print(" C"); // Print unit
  
  delay(500); // Update every half second
}