Seeed Studio Launches Sub-$7 mmWave 24GHz Human Static Presence Module Lite

New, cheaper sensor has a shorter range than its predecessor but comes with new distance and speed measuring capabilities.

Seeed Studio has announced a new millimeter-wave (mmWave) sensor module, designed to pick up the proximity and, where applicable, speed of people in its surroundings: the 24GHz Human Static Presence Module Lite.

"For detections, it can detect human presence, stationary, speed, distance, and also proximity, meeting various needs for different scenarios," explains Seeed's Gigi Leung of the new sensor. "It is also highly configurable for users to adjust parameters including detection range, motion trigger, and state change time. There is also upper computer software for real-time data visualization, which illustrates sensing parameters through real-time waveform images which makes data monitoring easier and more clear."

The sensor comes shortly after the launch of the company's Human Stationary Presence Module, and uses the same core frequency-modulated continuous-wave (FMCW) radar technology. Like its predecessor, it's based around a MicRadar chip β€” though in the process of reducing the device's footprint and cost, it has trimmed the maximum motion detection range from around 39 feet to around 16.5 feet.

Interestingly, though, the new "Lite" sensor variant offers a couple of features the higher-priced original lacks: the ability to calculate the distance to a person as well as the speed at which they're moving, on top of simply detecting a person's presence and whether they are stationary or in motion.

To encourage adoption of the new sensor, Seeed Studio has penned a guide to integrating it into Home Assistant using ESPHome β€” to function as anything from a burglar alarm to an occupancy sensor that can be used to enable or disable heating, lighting, and other smart home functionality depending on whether a room is occupied or not.

The 24GHz Human Static Presence Module Lite is now available to buy on the Seeed Studio store, priced at $6.90 before volume discounts β€” a hefty chunk cheaper than the original sensor's $19.90.

Gareth Halfacree
Freelance journalist, technical author, hacker, tinkerer, erstwhile sysadmin. For hire: freelance@halfacree.co.uk.
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