Shelly launches camera-free radar sensor that tracks ten people simultaneously
Shelly has launched the Presence Gen4, a camera-free sensor that uses mmWave radar to detect people and pets moving through a room. It can track up to ten people at once and trigger smart-home automations, offering a way to control devices based on occupancy without recording video.
The sensor costs $84.99 and is available through Shelly’s online store, with other retailers expected to follow. Its 140-degree field of view can cover spaces up to 650 square feet, and it supports Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, Zigbee and Matter, with integrations including Apple Home, Google Home, Alexa, SmartThings and Home Assistant. Users can configure up to ten detection zones and adjust sensitivity to avoid triggers from objects such as robot vacuums.
- Radar detects up to ten people without a camera.
- Covers spaces up to 650 square feet.
- Costs $84.99 and supports major smart-home systems.
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Smart-home sensors can detect when a room is occupied and use that information to control connected devices, such as turning lights on or off. Many systems use cameras, which capture images; radar sensors can instead detect movement and presence without recording video.
Shelly makes devices for smart homes, where appliances and sensors connect through wireless networks and platforms such as Apple Home, Google Home and Alexa. The Presence Gen4 uses radar to detect people and pets, and can track several people at once, allowing automations to respond to who is in a room.
This kind of sensor may be useful for lighting, heating or other routines that depend on occupancy. Its ability to work with different smart-home systems and to set detection zones affects how it can fit into a household’s existing setup.
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The case for
A camera-free radar sensor could make smart homes more useful while protecting privacy: it can detect occupancy and movement without capturing video. Tracking several people and pets, with adjustable zones and broad platform support, may enable more responsive automations and accessibility features.
The case against
Even without video, a sensor that tracks people in a home raises questions about how presence data is collected, stored and shared, especially when linked to multiple smart-home platforms. Its accuracy, cost and setup may also limit its value, while occupancy-based automation could feel intrusive to household members or guests who have not agreed to it.
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Originally published by The Verge as “Shelly’s new presence sensor simultaneously detects up to ten people without a camera”.