Device role
Motion Sensor
A motion sensor detects movement through passive infrared (PIR) or microwave radar. It reports motion events and is the most common building block for occupancy automations.
PIR sensors detect body heat changes within their field of view. They are inexpensive, battery friendly, and reliable, but they only see movement, not stillness. A person sitting motionless on a couch will eventually appear absent.
How Selora AI uses motion sensors
- Lighting automations that turn lights on when someone enters a room.
- Security recipes to detect movement when the home is armed away.
- Energy savings by inferring occupancy and adjusting HVAC and lighting accordingly.
When you might want a presence sensor instead
If a room sees long periods of stillness, such as a home office or media room, consider a presence sensor (radar or mmWave). Presence sensors detect both motion and stillness, which avoids the classic “lights turn off while I am still in the room” problem.
