Elevating Hospitality Standards with mmWave Radar Human Presence Detection Sensors

As the hospitality industry evolves towards smarter and more efficient operations, one technology stands out for its remarkable potential: millimeter wave (mmWave) radar sensors. These advanced human presence detection sensors are reshaping how hotels and other hospitality venues manage power control, offering benefits beyond simple energy savings and providing an unmatched guest experience.

Current human presence detection detection solutions

Keycards have been an industry standard for guest detection in hotel rooms for quite a while. In this scenario, guests must insert their keycard into a designated slot to turn on the power in their hotel room. This solution is rather clunky and complicated from the user’s perspective, and it’s no wonder that over the years, guests have tried and successfully hacked these systems by inserting business cards, folded pieces of paper, or other objects that resemble a keycard. 

Human motion and presence detection sensors allow for contactless power control, and currently, one of the popular solutions is PIR (passive infrared) sensor technology. While affordable, these sensors have many shortcomings regarding detection precision and false positives.

mmWave radar sensor technology overview

mmWave radar sensor technology operates by emitting electromagnetic waves in the millimeter wavelength range (typically 24 GHz and up) and analyzing the reflected signals to detect objects and their movements. In hospitality, these human presence detection sensors can accurately detect people’s presence and movement by capturing microchanges in the reflected signals caused by human respiration, heartbeats, and motion. This technology is increasingly used in smart building applications for energy management, security, and automation, enhancing the guest experience by adjusting environmental controls based on occupancy.

Precision and reliability

PIR sensors detect temperature changes in the designated area, differentiating people’s body temperature from the environment’s temperature. This technology has limitations when it comes to detecting motionless people, like a person sitting at a desk reading or sleeping in bed. If a guest doesn’t move for a while, the sensor will falsely conclude that the room is empty and turn the power off. mmWave radar technology can detect micromovements—tiny movements of the human body—and even detect heart rate and respiration. Thanks to this level of precision, sensors like RIOT100 will never turn the power off as long as at least one person is in the room. 

Microwave technology is very similar to mmWave, with the main difference being the frequency of the signal the sensor operates on. While microwave sensors also have very high precision and can detect small movements, the lower frequency of electromagnetic waves makes them penetrate through walls, creating false detections by guests in neighboring rooms or passing down the hallway. mmWave radar signals do not pass through walls, making it very simple to limit detection within a room.

Energy efficiency

An optimized power control system can provide significant cost savings for hospitality businesses, especially resorts or chain hotels with over 500 rooms per location. 

mmWave radar sensors enable automatic power control based on real-time occupancy data. With a sensor like RIOT100, property owners can choose the preferred switch-off time delay and turn off power after no presence has been detected in anything from a few seconds to a few minutes. 

These sensors can be used in common areas like hallways or staircases to control smart lighting, dimming the lights when there are no people and lighting them up as presence and motion are detected. By eliminating unnecessary power usage, mmWave sensors help reduce operational costs and contribute to a more sustainable environment.

Enhanced guest experience

In hospitality, the guest experience is paramount, and mmWave radar sensors can elevate this experience to new heights. By automatically detecting presence from the second somebody enters a room, the sensors eliminate the need to use keycards, providing a seamless experience for the guest.

To provide a personalized experience for hotel guests, it is possible to connect the sensor with HVAC and room lighting to automatically restore the guest’s preferred temperature and lighting settings the moment they step into the room. This level of customization enhances comfort and creates a seamless, high-tech experience that guests will appreciate.

Maintenance and invisible integration

mmWave radar waves go through non-conductive material (as long as they are not too thick, like walls), and aren’t affected by dust, spiderwebs, or similar obstacles. The ability to work behind materials like glass, plastic, ceramics, etc. allows for the invisible placement of mmWave radar sensors in a way that doesn’t disrupt room aesthetics, which is a concern for luxury hotels that invest significant resources into interior design and luxury details.

Non-intrusive monitoring

Guest privacy is a top priority in the hospitality industry, and mmWave radar sensors offer a significant advantage in this regard. Unlike cameras or other visual surveillance tools, mmWave sensors operate by detecting movement through electromagnetic waves without capturing any visual images.

This non-intrusive approach ensures that guest privacy is respected while providing essential data for power control and other applications. Guests can enjoy their stay without concerns about their privacy being compromised, fostering a more trusting and comfortable environment.

Seamless integration with existing systems

mmWave radar sensors fit seamlessly into the IoT ecosystem and easily integrate with any existing power control solution. For instance, RIOT100 specifications match any existing PIR solutions, and the sensor can be used as a drop-in replacement.

The room occupancy data collected from the sensors can be imported into property management systems (PMS) in real time. This can help optimize routes for the cleaning staff, save time, and minimize guest disturbances. In cases of emergency, a human presence detection sensor will show which rooms are occupied, helping evacuate everyone in the fastest possible manner and ensuring no one is left behind.

Conclusion

In summary, mmWave radar sensors offer a transformative blend of precision, efficiency, and advanced functionality. By embracing this technology, hospitality venues can significantly improve energy management, guest satisfaction, and operational efficiency while maintaining a high standard of privacy and personalization. As the industry continues to innovate, mmWave radar sensors can replace other presence detection technologies and evolve hospitality standards.

To learn more about our RIOT100 human presence detection sensor based on mmWave technology and its applications in hospitality, visit the RIOT100 page.