Air Lite Compact Air Quality Monitor

The Sensorbee Air Lite is a compact air quality monitor designed for cost-effective mass deployment. Weighing just 0.3 kg with built-in sensors for particulate matter (PM1, PM2.5, PM10), temperature, humidity, and noise, the Air Lite delivers multi-parameter environmental data over LTE-M or NB-IoT cellular networks. Its compact 150 × 80 × 55 mm housing and solar compatibility make it the practical choice for organisations that need dense monitoring networks without the cost and complexity of full-scale monitoring stations.

How It Works

The Air Lite uses an optical particle counter to measure particulate matter concentrations across three size fractions — PM1, PM2.5, and PM10. Onboard temperature and humidity sensors provide environmental baseline data, while an optional noise meter (activated via software licence) adds sound level monitoring to the same compact device. Sensor data is processed locally and transmitted at configurable intervals over LTE-M or NB-IoT cellular networks to the Sensorbee Cloud platform. The 3400 mAh internal battery sustains operation between solar charging cycles, and the unit accepts 5–15 VDC external power if mains or generator supply is available.

Built-In Sensors

Every Air Lite ships with four measurement capabilities in a single device:

• Optical Particle Counter — continuous PM1, PM2.5, and PM10 measurement for particulate matter monitoring across three size fractions
• Temperature Sensor — -40 to +60°C range with ±1°C accuracy for environmental data logging
• Humidity Sensor — 0–100% RH with ±5% RH accuracy for moisture and condensation tracking
• Noise Meter — 20 Hz to 10 kHz frequency range, 40–100 dBA with ±4 dBA accuracy (activated via software licence)

All sensors share a two-year operational life, with straightforward replacement when service intervals are reached.

Why Choose the Air Lite

Dense monitoring networks have traditionally required expensive equipment at every node, making wide-area coverage prohibitively costly. The Air Lite changes this equation by delivering four measurement parameters in a device that costs a fraction of a full monitoring station.

• Mass deployment economics — the Air Lite's compact design and competitive price point make it viable to deploy ten, fifty, or a hundred nodes across a monitoring area, creating spatial resolution that a handful of expensive stations cannot match
• All-in-one sensor package — PM, temperature, humidity, and noise measurement from a single device eliminates the need for separate instruments at each monitoring location
• Cellular connectivity as standard — LTE-M and NB-IoT provide reliable, low-power data transmission without Wi-Fi infrastructure or site network access, simplifying deployment logistics
• Solar compatible — connect the Sensorbee 14W solar panel for autonomous off-grid operation, removing mains power dependency entirely
• Lightweight and portable — at 0.3 kg, the Air Lite is easy to transport in volume and quick to install without specialist equipment or multiple technicians

Deployment and Installation

The Air Lite is designed for rapid, high-volume deployment. The compact polycarbonate and polyamide housing mounts to standard poles or wall brackets. A single technician can carry multiple units to site and install each one in minutes — mount the bracket, attach the Air Lite, insert a nano SIM card, and power on. The unit automatically connects to the Sensorbee Cloud and begins transmitting data.

For solar-powered deployments, connect the Sensorbee 14W solar panel via the M8 connector. The 3400 mAh internal battery bridges overnight and cloudy periods, ensuring continuous data collection without mains power.

When deploying large networks, the Sensorbee Cloud platform provides centralised management of all nodes — configure reporting intervals, set alert thresholds, and monitor network health from a single dashboard.

Applications

• Urban air quality networks — deploy across a city or district to map pollution hotspots, track spatial trends, and supplement reference station data with high-density spatial coverage. Suitable for Clean Air Zone and Low Emission Zone monitoring programmes.
• Community monitoring programmes — affordable per-node cost enables citizen science and community-led air quality initiatives where budget constraints have previously limited monitoring density.
• Construction perimeter monitoring — ring construction or demolition sites with Air Lite nodes to monitor dust dispersion patterns at multiple boundary points simultaneously, supporting dust management plans and neighbour relations.
• Smart city infrastructure — integrate air quality and noise data into smart city platforms through the Sensorbee Cloud API. The cellular connectivity and compact form factor suit mounting on street furniture, lamp posts, and building facades.
• Industrial campus monitoring — create a dense monitoring grid across industrial parks or logistics hubs to identify emission sources and track pollutant dispersion patterns in real time.
• Temporary event monitoring — rapid deployment and cellular connectivity make the Air Lite suitable for short-term environmental monitoring at festivals, sporting events, and community gatherings.

Frequently Asked Questions

How does the Air Lite compare to the Air Pro 2?

The Air Lite is designed for cost-effective mass deployment with built-in sensors, while the Air Pro 2 is a modular monitoring station that accepts additional gas sensor modules, offers MCERTS certification, and includes a larger 20 Ah battery for extended autonomous operation. Choose the Air Lite when you need many monitoring points across a wide area; choose the Air Pro 2 when you need advanced multi-gas measurement and regulatory certification at key locations.

Does the noise meter work out of the box?

The noise meter hardware is built into every Air Lite unit. Activation requires a software licence, which can be added at any time without hardware changes or site visits.

Can I power it without solar?

Yes. The Air Lite accepts 5–15 VDC external power input. You can connect mains power via an appropriate adaptor, or use the 3400 mAh internal battery for short-term portable deployments.

What SIM card does it need?

The Air Lite uses a standard nano SIM card. It supports both LTE-M and NB-IoT networks, providing wide coverage across most mobile network operators.

How long do the sensors last?

All built-in sensors have a two-year operational life. Replacement sensors are available from Sensorbee, and the process does not require factory service.