Sentinel

Prototype

Brake and tyre temperature monitor for motorsport

Sentinel measures brake and tyre temperatures in real time with sensor nodes at each corner, reporting over a CAN bus to an ESP32-S3 main unit. The driver sees a colour-coded temperature grid on a cockpit display, while the pits follow live data on a Wi-Fi web dashboard. Every session is logged on the device for post-run analysis.

Prototype pre-release for track tests.

Type: Hardware
Status: Prototype
Compliance: Not certified
Repository licence: CC BY-SA 3.0 (hardware), firmware not published (binaries only)
Updated: 17 October 2026

GitHub repository

Specifications

Sentinel specifications
Main unit	ESP32-S3 hub, custom PCB v1.2
Sensor nodes	ESP32-C3 CAN nodes (Iris), custom PCB
Sensors	Infrared and RTD temperature, 433 MHz TPMS tyre pressure (from v1.4)
Network	CAN bus
Driver display	TFT temperature grid
Telemetry	Wi-Fi web dashboard, mesh networking for track coverage
Logging	On-board, high-frequency
Power	Vehicle battery supply, 3 to 35 V DC

Gallery

Front of the Sentinel v1.4 prototype main unit with its display set into the enclosure — Sentinel v1.4, the current prototype and planned as the last before release.

Rear panel of the Sentinel v1.4 prototype with an SMA antenna connector, two circular connectors and a socket — The v1.4 rear panel. This is the first unit fitted with the 433 MHz TPMS circuit for tyre pressure monitoring.

Sentinel cockpit display showing tyre and brake temperatures for all four corners — The cockpit display. Each corner shows tyre and brake temperature, coloured from cold blue to overheating red.

Sentinel main unit parts laid out before assembly, with the display, enclosure and main circuit board — Main unit parts from an earlier prototype, before assembly.

Sentinel main unit and a row of sensor nodes wired together on a workbench — Full system bench test with PCB v1.1.

Infrared sensor node mounted next to a brake disc — A sensor node fitted at a brake disc.

Sentinel display mounted on the dash of a race car cockpit — Installed in the Alfa Romeo 156 test car.