Objective To design a simulator for non-contact heart rate and respiratory rate monitoring research, explain its working principle, and test its performance. Methods STM32F429 development board, electromagnetic bolt, H-bridge driver circuit, direct current push rod, and touch screen were used to design a heart rate and breath simulator. Performance tests were evaluated with parameters including heart rate, heart rate change response, respiratory rate, and respiratory rate change response. Results A heart rate and breath simulator was successfully developed. The adjustable range of the heart rate simulator was 30-250 min^-1 with error in ±2 min^-1. The adjustable range of the respiratory rate of the breath simulator was 1-40 min^-1 with error in ±1 min^-1. The response time of heart rate change and respiratory rate change was both in 15 s, which met its application requirements. Conclusion The heart rate and breath simulator can simulate human physiological signals under different injury conditions by setting different heart rate and respiratory rate parameters, which meets the application requirements for non-contact vital signs monitoring research, and can realize the professional design and verification of performance indicators such as measurement range, measurement accuracy, and response time.