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FeatureNAB’s open-source mmWave sensor combines a Seeed XIAO ESP32-C6 with one of two radar boards and ESPHome to send presence and, with the LD2450 configuration, 2D location data to Home Assistant. That can enable automations tied to parts of a room, such as switching on a reading light when someone occupies an armchair zone. The project publishes no measured accuracy or detection-range results, so its “precision” framing should not be read as a verified performance claim.
What the project does
The device uses an ESP32-C6 controller and a mmWave radar module. Its ESPHome firmware integrates with Home Assistant, where location data can be used to trigger zone-based automations. For example, a room could have separate actions for a reading corner and a kitchen counter. The project describes this as 2D location tracking; the README does not provide numerical validation of tracking accuracy or detection distance.
Project files, build instructions, and firmware details are published in the FeatureNAB project repository.
Choose one of the two radar modules
Both configurations use the same Seeed XIAO ESP32-C6 controller, but the radar board determines the documented use case. Connect only one radar module per build.
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| Radar option | Documented purpose | Connection detail |
|---|---|---|
| LD2450 | Tracking-oriented option for 2D location and room-zone automations. | Uses a dual-row header with 2 mm pitch; this is not the common 2.54 mm pitch. Confirm the connector matches before ordering or assembling. |
| DFRobot SEN0609 | Alternative human-presence radar board; the repository does not describe it as the tracking-oriented choice. | Uses its own five-pin header. |
The project README does not give comparable tested range or accuracy figures for either option, so it does not support ranking the modules by those measures.
Parts and optional additions
Required for either build
- One Seeed XIAO ESP32-C6 board.
- One supported radar module: either the LD2450 or the DFRobot SEN0609.
- The project PCB and the connectors appropriate to the selected radar board.
Optional additions
- An Adafruit SHTC3 temperature-and-humidity sensor, with a header to expose the I²C connector.
- Optional capacitors, which the project lists for power stability.
- A printed enclosure, using the repository’s supplied 3D files.
Make the PCB and enclosure
- Open the project repository and download
LD2450_HAT.zipfrom its Releases section. The project instructions direct builders to upload the Gerber files to a PCB manufacturer; JLCPCB is the example named in the documented workflow. - Assemble the controller, the single selected radar board, and the appropriate headers. For an LD2450 build, check the 2 mm header pitch before sourcing the connector.
- For the enclosure, use the repository’s
FullAssembly.3mffile. The project specifies a 0.12 mm layer height for the tightening ring and says the other enclosure pieces can be printed at 0.2 mm layers. - Install and configure the project’s ESPHome firmware, then connect the device to Home Assistant. The repository is the source for the current configuration files and build-specific instructions.
Cost and performance: what is established
The project README gives an approximate basic-build cost of $10–12, excluding shipping and duties, and notes that prices may fluctuate. This is an undated estimate from the project, not a current verified shopping quote. Circuit Digest separately reported around $10 per unit in coverage published October 6, 2026; that figure is also an estimate rather than a guaranteed total.
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Neither the inspected project README nor the cited coverage establishes controlled accuracy, detection-range, or reliability results. Treat the 2D tracking description as the project’s intended functionality, not a measured guarantee. A separate LD2450 project reported tracking up to three simultaneous targets, but that result does not establish that FeatureNAB’s implementation supports three targets.
Keep similar ESP32-C6 projects distinct
Not every ESP32-C6 mmWave design uses the same firmware or integration. A separate Zigbee project uses LD2410-family modules and exposes moving and static presence states; it is a different design from FeatureNAB’s ESPHome and 2D-tracking build. Its repository stated that it was no longer maintained by the original maintainer as of January 2026. Likewise, other LD2450 multi-zone projects should not be taken as evidence of FeatureNAB’s target count or performance.
Quick Recap
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