BackpAQ gives students a professional-grade sensor, an AI science advisor, and a platform to investigate, report, and publish their findings — right in their own neighborhood.
BackpAQ is not a simulation. Students carry a real sensor through their real neighborhood and collect real air quality data — then use AI to help them understand what they found.
The BackpAQ V4 measures PM2.5, PM10, CO2, NOx, and VOC in real time with GPS location tagging. The same parameters measured by EPA monitoring stations — in a device that fits in a backpack.
Every track appears instantly on an interactive map with a color-coded hotline showing air quality along the route. Students can compare their local readings against the nearest official EPA station.
Powered by Claude (Anthropic), the AI Advisor analyzes each track and provides scientific context, EPA comparisons, health recommendations, and pollution source hypotheses — in plain language students can understand.
After AI analysis, students fill in their own observations, conclusions, and community recommendations. The report clearly separates AI-generated science from student-written analysis — so teachers can assess both.
Students can publish their reports to the BackpAQ Student Experiences gallery — a public page where investigations from schools around the world are shared. Real audience, real impact.
A dedicated cycling mode lets students map air quality along bike routes — comparing arterial roads to bike paths, finding cleaner commutes, and generating GPX files to share with the community.
Each experiment follows a simple, repeatable workflow that fits naturally into the scientific method your students already know.
Students form a question and prediction before heading out — guided by experiment prompts in the FAQ.
BackpAQ records GPS-tagged sensor data in real time. Students add field notes via the Blynk app.
Load the track in AIView. The AI Advisor provides scientific interpretation, EPA comparison, and health context.
Students complete the Report Builder with their own observations, conclusions, and community recommendations.
Optional: publish to the Student Experiences gallery. Real science shared with a real audience.
Each experiment has a hypothesis, step-by-step procedure, AIView analysis guide, and suggested AI Advisor questions. Full NGSS alignment documented in the FAQ.
When is the air cleanest? Students record the same route at morning, midday, and evening to study how traffic patterns affect PM2.5.
Is the air inside our school building cleaner than outside? Students compare classroom, entrance, and playing field air quality using PM2.5 and CO2.
How quickly does PM2.5 drop as you move away from a busy road? Students measure at 5m, 20m, 50m, 100m intervals.
A two-week longitudinal study tracking how wind, rain, and temperature inversions affect daily air quality at the same location.
Which route to school has cleaner air? Students compare two routes with BackpAQ cycling mode and export GPX files to share findings.
Before, during, and after a school event — bonfire, car show, or construction project. Students document real-world pollution events and recovery time.
Every BackpAQ investigation integrates Science and Engineering Practices, Disciplinary Core Ideas, and Crosscutting Concepts — the three dimensions of NGSS.
BackpAQ comes with hardware, software, curriculum support, and an AI science partner — all designed to work together out of the box.
Measures PM1, PM2.5, PM10, CO2, NOx, VOC, temperature and humidity with GPS. Battery powered, SD card backup, WiFi connected.
Free iOS and Android app for real-time sensor display, field notes, GPS breadcrumb map, and session recording.
Browser-based dashboard with interactive maps, time-series charts, EPA station comparison, and track history.
One-click AI analysis of each track with scientific context, health recommendations, and field note interpretation.
Guided report template with embedded map and chart. Students write their own sections; AI provides scientific reference.
Ready-to-run investigations with hypotheses, procedures, AIView guides, suggested AI Advisor questions, and NGSS alignment.
Students can publish reports to the BackpAQ Student Experiences gallery — connecting your class to a global community of citizen scientists.
Full build guide, circuit diagrams, firmware, and parts list on Instructables. Build your own for under $150.
The BackpAQ Student Experiences gallery showcases real investigations from students around the world — complete with maps, charts, field observations, and community recommendations.
Tell us about your class and we'll get back to you with next steps — whether that's a demo, a loan unit, or help getting started.