diff --git a/drone_sensors/src/height_sensor.cpp b/drone_sensors/src/height_sensor.cpp
index a771d0ff..9f1a1386 100644
--- a/drone_sensors/src/height_sensor.cpp
+++ b/drone_sensors/src/height_sensor.cpp
@@ -1,5 +1,5 @@
 #include <chrono> //time measurement
-#include <iostream> // reading from serial port
+#include <fstream> // reading from serial port
 
 #include "rclcpp/rclcpp.hpp"
 #include "std_msgs/msg/string.hpp"
@@ -16,6 +16,8 @@ class HeightSensorPublisher : public rclcpp::Node
 					500ms, std::bind(&HeightSensorPublisher::timer_callback, this));
 				RCLCPP_INFO(this->get_logger(), "Constructor of height sensor publisher");	
 
+				setup_serial_port();
+
 			}
 	private:
 		void timer_callback()
@@ -25,8 +27,28 @@ class HeightSensorPublisher : public rclcpp::Node
 			RCLCPP_INFO(this->get_logger(), "Publishing: %s", message.data.c_str());
 			publisher_->publish(message);
 		}
+
+		/**
+		 * @brief Set the up serial port object to read from the sensor (/dev/ttyACM0)
+		 * 
+		 */
+		void setup_serial_port() 
+		{
+			serial_port.open("/dev/ttyACM0", std::ios::in);
+			if (!serial_port.is_open())
+			{
+				RCLCPP_ERROR(this->get_logger(), "Could not open serial port");
+			}
+			else
+			{
+				RCLCPP_INFO(this->get_logger(), "Serial port opened");
+			}
+
+			serial_port.close();
+		}
 		rclcpp::TimerBase::SharedPtr timer_;
 		rclcpp::Publisher<std_msgs::msg::String>::SharedPtr publisher_;
+		std::fstream serial_port; // serial port for reading from device
 };
 
 int main(int argc, char *argv[])