Tuya
mmWave Presence Sensor (WiFi + Zigbee)
Your lights will stop turning off while you're sitting still. This 24GHz mmWave radar detects micro-movements like breathing and heartbeat, so presence stays confirmed whether you're in a focus session, asleep, or just thinking. PIR sensors forget you're there. This one doesn't.
Connects via WiFi or Zigbee (your choice at setup), and integrates with Home Assistant through Zigbee2MQTT, ZHA, or direct WiFi. Tuya is also supported. Depending on firmware, it reports presence state, target distance, and target count, giving your automations real data rather than a simple on/off signal.
Things to build with this
- Use target count reporting to build a per-seat HVAC zone controller: when the sensor counts zero occupants in a room, a Node-RED flow closes the vent relay. When it detects even one stationary presence (including a sleeping person), it reopens. Standard PIR cannot do this because it goes blind the moment someone stops moving.
- Build a bathroom occupancy indicator that drives a smart lock status light based on confirmed radar presence rather than a door contact switch. Since the mmWave sensor detects a stationary person (including someone sitting still), it won't clear occupancy just because movement stopped, which is exactly the failure mode of PIR-based occupancy locks.
- Use target distance data to trigger a desk-proximity automation: when the reported distance drops below 1.2 meters, Home Assistant activates your monitors, bias lighting, and a desk fan. When distance clears and presence drops to zero for 30 seconds, everything shuts off. The distance field is what makes this precise enough to distinguish sitting at the desk from walking past it.
Key Features
- 24GHz mmWave radar: detects micro-movements (breathing, heartbeat) for confirmed stationary presence
- Dual protocol: WiFi or Zigbee, selected at setup, not both simultaneously
- Home Assistant compatible: works with Zigbee2MQTT, ZHA, and WiFi-based HA integrations
- Reports presence state, target distance, and target count (firmware-dependent)
- 120-degree detection cone: ceiling or wall mountable, covers a full room from one sensor
- Adjustable range and sensitivity: tune detection zone to match your space and avoid false triggers
- No camera, no optical data: radar only, nothing pointed at anyone
Frequently Asked Questions
What's the actual difference between this and a PIR motion sensor?
PIR detects infrared changes caused by movement. Stop moving and it assumes the room is empty, which is why lights cut out mid-meeting. mmWave radar picks up micro-movements like breathing, so presence stays confirmed even when you're sitting still. The trade-off: mmWave costs more and requires sensitivity tuning to avoid false triggers through walls or glass.
Will it detect people through walls and cause false triggers?
It can. 24GHz radar penetrates thin drywall and glass. Point the sensor away from shared walls and reduce the detection range in firmware settings. Most supported firmware builds include per-zone sensitivity controls specifically for this situation.
Do I pick WiFi or Zigbee, or can I run both?
You pick one at setup. If your Home Assistant runs a Zigbee coordinator (like a Sonoff Zigbee 3.0 dongle or ConBee), Zigbee gives you lower latency and keeps the sensor off your WiFi network. If you want direct WiFi integration or are on Tuya, go that route. The sensor supports both protocols but operates on one at a time.
Does target count mean I can tell how many people are in a room?
In supported firmware builds, yes. The sensor reports a target count alongside presence state and distance. Accuracy depends on room layout and sensitivity tuning, and it works best in smaller, well-bounded spaces. It won't reliably distinguish two people sitting close together, but it will differentiate zero, one, and multiple occupants in most typical room configurations.
Why we stock this
Curated by Kindly Morrow. We test and vet every product before it hits the store. If we wouldn't use it in our own builds, we don't sell it.
Things to build with this
Fun projects to try once you get your hands on it.
Movie mode with one tap
NFC tag on your coffee table. Tap your phone: lights dim, TV turns on, blinds close. Tap again to undo. Feels like magic every time.
Laundry notification system
Vibration sensor on your washing machine. When it stops vibrating, your phone buzzes. No more forgetting wet clothes for 3 days.
Automatic night light path
Motion sensors in the hallway trigger dim warm lights at floor level after 10pm. Walk to the bathroom without waking up fully.
Mailbox alert
Contact sensor on the mailbox door. Home Assistant sends a notification when mail arrives. Never walk to an empty mailbox again.
