RoomSense IQ is a modular room monitor for presence-based home automation based on the ESP32-S3 module with Bluetooth Wi-Fi connectivity. It uses physical presence detection to automate your smart home devices. It comes with multiple sensors that can be used to detect human activity and track ambient light, temperature, and humidity levels.
It uses mmWave radar technology to determine when rooms are empty and when they are occupied. It also features built-in temperature, humidity, and light sensors for indoor climate monitoring and control. Rather than relying on schedules, or voice detection, RoomSense IQ triggers automations or alerts based on whether people are in a room or not. It is therefore possible to set it to automatically turn off lights or air conditioning in rooms that are empty to save on energy. In addition, the device offers distance to target measurement that can be adjusted to trigger certain actions.
RoomSense IQ technical specifications:
- SoC: ESP32-S3 with Bluetooth and Wi-Fi connectivity
- USB: USB Type-C for power and serial communication
- Multi-purpose RGB LED
- Sensors:
- LD2410 module (uses mmWave radar at 24GHz to detect human presence, with a sensing distance of up to about 19.7ft (6 meters) and a detection angle of ±60 degrees)
- Murata PIR (passive infrared) sensor to filter out non-human activity and reduce false alarms (fans, wind-blown curtains, etc)
- SHT30 sensor that measures temperature and humidity
- Adafruit A161 photocell to detect ambient light levels
- Magnetic joint holder
- Thermally isolated enclosure for optimal sensor accuracy
- Power Consumption: 80mA at 5V via USB Type-C port
- Dimensions: 5.5 x 5.5 cm (2.1 x 2.1 inches)
RoomSense IQ can be integrated with your Home Assistant setup through the MQTT protocol. It offers an open-source Home Assistant dashboard that displays real-time data and trend values. You can make changes and create automations right from the dashboard. You can find the code and setup instructions in the GitHub repository.
Since there are other well-established products in the presence-based home automation space, RoomSense IQ’s developers have provided a comparison table, stacking their product against worthy competitors such as Aqara FP2 and the Everything Presence One (EP1) kit.
It is worth noting that the company offers other ‘ClimateSense’ modules that integrate with RoomSense IQ for complete indoor climate monitoring. The base RoomSense IQ model (without the additional modules) is priced at $45. The product is also bundled with a USB Type-C cable, a three-piece, plastic enclosure, and a mounting kit.
The crowdfunding campaign for RoomSense IQ launched on Crowd Supply on Nov 21, 2023, and will end on Dec 21, 2023. Currently, it has raised over $20,000. Orders placed during the crowdfunding period are expected to ship by May 2024, barring any unforeseen delays.
Tomisin is a writer specializing in hardware product reviews, comparisons, and explainers. He is very passionate about small form factor and single-board computers.
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