Up until now, many smart home sensors have been limited by a couple of factors. One being the actual sensing technology, older variants of which aren’t all that precise. Another is power; what’s the point of installing a sensor if it needs to be plugged in all the time and can’t sit where you want it? That’s about to change with the battery-powered Aqara FP300 sensor, which takes a more modern approach.
Shown in action at IFA recently, the Aqara FP300 packs a battery that lasts up to two years. It might seem odd that such an integral component of so-called ‘smart homes’ has so far not run on batteries. Fortunately, positioning sensors will soon not rely on where you have available power outlets.
That’s great from a convenience perspective, but the most important part is the FP300’s sensing technology. While some smart home companies are exploring how Wi-Fi can act as a precise sensor, Aqara has a few tricks up its sleeve.
Housed within the Aqara FP300 is a passive infrared sensor alongside millimetre wave technology. Additionally, the multi-sensor includes temperature, light, and humidity-sensing technologies, providing five different ways it can detect a person’s presence.
Why is this helpful, though? Old-school sensors previously relied on motion detection, which is fine for specific use cases, like detecting when someone enters the home. But if a smart light only turns on when someone moves, how does it know when to turn off?
Theoretically, a fully-equipped smart home could turn off the lights soon after you leave the room by detecting an absence of body temperature. An intruder will also have a much harder time fooling a heat sensor than a simple motion sensor.
And the good news for Australians is that the Aqara FP300 is launching in October.
