The Connectivity Standards Alliance has hinted at an upcoming update to the Zigbee protocol that could transform your Philips Hue lights into occupancy sensors. This new feature, called Ambient Sensing, will enable Zigbee devices to detect your presence without the need for extra hardware. The update will be available for both new and existing devices, and will be delivered through firmware updates.
Although a specific timeline for the rollout of Ambient Sensing has not been disclosed yet, experts anticipate that this innovation will enhance user experiences such as autonomous lighting control and home security. It is speculated that the update will require at least three light sources placed strategically within a room and will offer customizable motion detection intensity.
Signify, the company behind Philips Hue, is also working on other exciting developments such as an AI assistant for creating personalized lighting scenes through voice commands. However, the potential integration of Ambient Sensing into the Philips Hue ecosystem is highly anticipated. Stay tuned for more updates on this evolving technology.