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An ESP32-based presence detection node designed for localized device tracking.
Reasons to use this over other solutions:
- ESP32 nodes are cheaper and easier to use than Raspberry Pis
- Extensive fingerprint-based IDs instead of MAC addresses for tracking or counting devices others can’t
- IRK-based enrollment of Apple devices to passively locate them uniquely, even with private random addresses
- Home Assistant MQTT Discovery for easy HA configuration
- Auto-updates by downloading GitHub-released binaries (optional, with a preference to disable if desired)
- Filters measured distance with both a median pre-filter and a 1Euro filter (reduces jitter for greater accuracy)
- Companion allows for full multilateration
For the best experience, we recommend pairing ESPresense nodes with the ESPresense Companion Docker container/HA Add-on. ESPresense nodes provide distance measurements to nearby devices, and ESPresense Companion aggregates those distances from multiple nodes, using an accurate floor plan to determine each device's location within your space (multilateration).
While this setup allows for more precise presence detection and triangulation, it requires an accurate floor plan and at least 3 nodes covering each room to work effectively.
If you prefer to stick with the Home Assistant mqtt_room component, it remains supported—though it is less capable and manually configured.
If you’re having trouble getting things set up or working properly, visit the troubleshooting page before opening an issue. It will guide you on what information to provide to identify and resolve your problem.
This project builds on the hard work of a number of people.