Smart home sensors: presence vs motion
Short answer: Arklyfe currently sells one smart sensor, the Matter & Thread Human Presence Sensor (AU$179). It uses 24 GHz radar to detect people who are moving, barely moving or sitting still, so lights and air conditioning stay on while a room is in use and switch off when it is empty. It works with Apple Home, Google Home, Amazon Alexa and other Matter platforms through a Thread border router, and mounts flush in a 55 mm ceiling or wall cutout on mains power.
Presence sensor or motion sensor?
| PIR motion sensor | Radar presence sensor | |
|---|---|---|
| Detects | Movement only | Movement, small movements and people sitting or lying still |
| Common problem | Lights switch off while you sit still or stand in the shower | Needs sensible placement and zone setup |
| Power | Often battery | Arklyfe's sensor runs on mains (90–260 V AC), installed by an electrician |
| Best rooms | Hallways, entries, garages | Bathrooms, studies, living rooms, bedrooms |
What you can automate
- Lights that stay on while someone is in the room and turn off when it is empty, instead of on a fixed timer.
- Two zones (left and right) from one sensor, so each half of a room can run a different automation.
- Air conditioning, curtains or scenes that follow whether the room is occupied, for example with the BCM400D Matter curtain motor.
What you need
A Matter controller and a Thread border router, such as an Apple HomePod mini or Apple TV 4K for Apple Home, or a Thread-capable Google Nest or Amazon Echo hub. No Arklyfe hub is needed. Because the sensor is mains-powered, it must be installed by a licensed electrician. Arklyfe installs sensors, switches and lighting control across Melbourne: see our smart home installation service or call 1300 306 739.
Related: the StellarTrack smart switch with a built-in light and sensor, how to add Matter devices to Apple Home and Matter vs Zigbee vs Z-Wave for Australian homes.