Aqara’s Presence Sensor FP2 adds sleep detection

The new Aqara Presence Sensor FP2 which was showcased at CES 2023 has three important new features that can make it more useful and useful as a smart home device.

Sleep Monitoring System, AI Tracker, and Reader all come with a Wi-Fi sensor, which is one of the first applications to use using millimeter wave (mmWave) radar technology to accurately detect the presence of a person even if they are sitting still, instead of relying on passive infrared motion sensing.

The small puck-like device can now be set to monitor and analyze “sleep status, real-time heart rate, and breathing data,” according to a press release from the company. Sleep monitoring is available via a firmware update (V1.2.3_0002.0059) rolling out globally in the next few days.

AI Searchers and Readers are improvements coming “in the coming months.” According to Aqara, AI Human Analysis will be used on the machine AI to distinguish between human activity and the activity caused by robots, pets, and other mobile devices. People Counting will be able to send notifications when people enter a room as well as notify you how many people are there, which can be a useful security feature.

One of the major sales of FP2 that, unlike PIR motion sensors, mmWave radar can detect whether you are sitting, standing, or lying down and monitor the activity in specific areas. This should make it possible to set specific devices, such as turning on a specific light when you sit down in a specific chair or opening the shades when you get out of bed in the morning.

However, I’ve been testing the device in my home for a few months now, and while it’s working well as a standard model, I haven’t been able to accurately respond to those exact actions. Things like my ceiling fan, the many robotic devices I test, and my three pets often cause confusion. I will try these new features to see if they improve the reliability of the device.

The sleep monitoring function can be a very interesting improvement for the device. If it works, i $83, will be one of the more expensive options for monitoring things like heart rate and breathing while sleeping. It’s not something you have to wear, it can be a problem with some sleep monitoring technology, and there is no penalty required to use it.

As a smart home device, it can be used as a trigger for devices in the Aqara app based on whether you are asleep or awake. For example. Turn on the lights and open the shades when I wake up after 6 am, or turn off the TV when I go to bed.

According to Aqara, Sleep Monitoring Mode requires the device to be installed directly above where you sleep (which may present a installation challenge, as it is a wireless device). The FP2 also has a drop function when installed on the roof, and although it only works one time, you can switch between its functions in the app .

When in Sleep Monitoring Mode, the device can track one person at a time, and Aqara says the accuracy of the mmWave radar “can detect small movements such as breathing, even under a thick blanket.” You can install more than one FP2 in the same room if you want to track your partner’s sleep.

Other non-wearable options for sleep monitoring include the $130 Withings Sleep and the $100 second-gen Google Nest Hub, which also use radar technology but include a microphone to detect the snoring, something the FP2 can’t do.

The FP2 works with Amazon Alexa, Google Home, and Apple Home. The company has said that it will support Matter if the platform increases the visibility of participation.