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Shelly launches a radar presence sensor without a camera
Shelly's Presence Gen4 uses mmWave radar to trigger home automations. Described as capable of detecting up to 10 people, it offers adjustable zones and compatibility with several home automation systems.
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Shelly has announced the Presence Gen4, a sensor for home automation that uses mmWave radar rather than a camera. According to The Verge, it is available from the manufacturer's online store for $84.99. It is described as capable of detecting up to 10 people simultaneously and identifying the presence, movements and activities of people or animals.
The device allows users to define up to 10 detection zones that can be adjusted separately. The aim is to trigger an action based on the area occupied: turning on a lamp when someone sits down at a desk or activating a device in the living room. Its sensitivity can also be adjusted to ignore objects close to the floor, to limit triggers caused by, for example, a robot vacuum.
The sensor can be placed on furniture or mounted on a wall. Installation requires power through a USB-C cable. The Verge reports compatibility with Google Home, Apple Home, Amazon Alexa, Samsung SmartThings and Home Assistant, along with support for Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, Zigbee and Matter.
The absence of a camera is a specific hardware characteristic here. It is not sufficient to establish how data are processed or retained. Likewise, the announced detection capabilities are not accompanied, in the available information, by an independent test of accuracy in home conditions.