8 ms·

Home Assistant Presence Simulation

144 points by edward 2y ago

enobrev 2y ago
Simulated presence in our home: Motion-triggered lights and a cat
- starxidas 2y ago
  Sure, but cats sleep around 35 hours a day.
  - drdaeman 2y ago
    Fortunately, presence simulation is only needed at dusk/night - when cats have their zoomies.
    - glitchcrab 2y ago
      This would be a dead giveaway that I wasn't home; my cats tend to get the zoomies in the small hours.
- nurettin 2y ago
  I need some of those cat-sensitive motion triggers.
  - reaperducer 2y ago
    Old school hardware stores have them. They screw in between the lightbulb and the lamp.
    - enobrev 2y ago
      My z-wave sensors of various brands tend to recognize my cat. Most of them have a "pet" setting which is supposed to ignore them, but then I would lose my entire security system.
bobchadwick 2y ago
I used this last week! I was out of town and a friend texted me letting me know the lights in my house were on. I got such a sense of joy in knowing that it was working as intended.
dharbin 2y ago
Can it automate a cutout of Michael Jordan attached to a model train set?
- jeroenhd 2y ago
  You jest, but with an ESP32 flashed with ESPHome and a few dollars of electronics to regulate the power, I think controlling model trains would actually be quite doable. Your biggest challenge is probably dealing with network/scripting latency for events that need to happen in quick succession, like when dealing with switches. Or, if you consider Lego DUPLO trains to be model trains, there's this: https://community.home-assistant.io/t/lego-duplo-train-control-with-esphome/637816/21 https://community.home-assistant.io/t/lego-duplo-train-contr... Edit: there's also this https://github.com/aaron9589/esphome-for-model-railroading https://github.com/aaron9589/esphome-for-model-railroading for the more serious model railroad enthusiast, though I'm not 100% sure if that actually controls the trains themselves (or just the switches and lights)
  - shimon 2y ago
    In many cases, a simple off-the-shelf smart plug would suffice.
    - ewoodrich 2y ago
      That's why I try as hard as I can to find either truly "dumb" devices with mechanical switches vs momentary buttons or devices that remember their last state after A/C power is restored. Hard to figure out the second option though without trying it unless a review happens to mention it specifically.
  - sofixa 2y ago
    Awesome. The Home Assistant and related (ESPHome, Voice Assistant, Music Assistanc) communities are amazing and there is just a crazy amount of projects one can just pick up and use.
- moandcompany 2y ago
  It could also automate ordering pizza delivery and the tipping process to "Keep the change, ya filthy animal"
bloopernova 2y ago
Slightly related, please forgive the offtopicness: has anyone implemented a DIY UWB location base + beacon/tag? I ask because my neurodivergent wife loses things, and often Tile either doesn't work or isn't load enough. I read that UWB promises 10cm² or 10cm³ accuracy, which would be ideal for finding lost stuff. I've seen a couple of commercial offerings, but they didn't have pricing.
- __sy__ 2y ago
  I don't know if it will count as DIY, but take a look at LEGIC and their devkit for this. We (seam) work with them and I recall seeing a couple of startups doing demo's of their UWB solution at their LEGIC Connect conference.
- Rebelgecko 2y ago
  I used some Decawave kits ~a decade ago and they worked pretty well... however if you want to DIY something as usable as Airtags I think the main struggle would be getting the package compact and with low power consumption (unless you want to track large things and are fine with a chonky battery)
- jitl 2y ago
  The generic stuff in the "Find My" ecosystem works quite well. It's not DIY, but most things have UWB finding that works whole-house for me.
Fokamul 2y ago
Hm I'm not sure if this helps. Because thieves will first knock on doors, even for tens of minutes. Ring etc. Normally people will open and thief will say some BS and go away. Cameras with backup power and backup internet connection is your first priority.
- Geezus_42 2y ago
  Funny because I never answer my door when anyone knocks. If you're knocking on my door it's because I don't know you, which means I probably don't want to talk to you. Anyone who knows me knows to call or text before they come by.
  - baq 2y ago
    I have kids, neighbors have kids, door is knocked on all the time.
    - reaperducer 2y ago
      You don't even have to have kids. When I was at my last house, I didn't have kids, and people would knock on my door every day. It was because my block was full of neighbors who were friendly and nice to one another, and not shut in their houses like hermits. The way many people in the suburbs live these days, they'd might as well live in windowless metal shipping containers.
      - barbazoo 2y ago
        You're so right. If you life in a neighborhood that even vaguely resembles some kind of community then you're really really lucky!
  - sofixa 2y ago
    What if it's like, a utility company trying to warn you they'll cut off power/water/whatever in a few minutes because of emergency works?
joshstrange 2y ago
Just a note to anyone interested in trying out Home Assistant: It's amazing _but_ do NOT use a raspberry pi to run it. Save yourself a ton of headaches and buy a mini pc (there was a list of used mini pcs posted here yesterday from ebay). Also I recommend using HAOS (or whatever the "we install and run the whole OS" option is called) so that you can use things like plugins without messing around with docker. I love docker but trust me, life is easier on HAOS. I liked HA but felt like it wasn't really "stable". I used a Pi 3 for a while, then a Pi 4 decked out (highest ram, NVME storage, super nice case, etc) and still felt like it was unstable. I chalked this up to HA but then rolled the dice on a Beelink mini pc and it has been rock solid ever since. Also don't be misled by the lower price of the Pi, I paid more for my Pi 4 setup than the Beelink (or about the same). I blamed everything from the Zigbee/Z-wave dongles, to HAOS, to HA itself, etc but in the end it was RPi. The 4 was the last Pi I'll ever buy. EDIT: I was in a hurry and didn't add my normal disclaimer when I talk about the RPi's: Yes I know some of you have a Pi 1 that been running you entire life since it first came out and you think I'm full of crap. I've owned every Pi 1-4 and never been truly happy with them. I bought them "raw" and sourced all the parts myself, I bought high-end (at least in price) kits with everything included, I bought all official accessories (like power), they always were just that little bit unstable. It would work great for days/weeks then randomly not be reachable (wired or wireless). I spent just shy of $200 for my last "builds" which included a NVME drive (240G, lest you think this is where the cost was), RPi case, RPi NVME hat, RPi 4 8gb model, SD card, power, etc and the result was still instability. I don't know what to tell you. Maybe I'm a moron but my experience with them has not been great. That said I want to love them and I loved my RPi 1B even with all it's warts, a $35 "credit card sized" computer was awesome. Maybe I just don't want to tinker as much anymore and value stability.
- vaindil 2y ago
  Counterpoint: I've been running HAOS on an RPi 2 and 3 for several years without a single issue, and I do use a z-wave dongle but no Zigbee. I only do basic stuff with it (a few automations for my z-wave thermostat and switches, AdGuard Home), but it's been rock solid for me. I only had issues once, when I tried to run the Unifi Network Application addon. A RPi is not strong enough for that, but I just uninstalled it and moved on.
jitl 2y ago
I use a normal automation to turn on the lights every day at sundown, and to turn off the lights every night at ($BEDTIME + 1hr), just as part of daily life. I don't need anything tricky to simulate that pattern when I'm traveling; I just don't disable the automation. I wonder how many people using HomeAssitant for their lights are manually turning lights on and off all the time. I would think most people would set up a daily or weekday + weeknight schedule and be done with it.
- closewith 2y ago
  We have some automations, but mostly use homebridge and Apple Home scenes controlled by presence, smart switches, Siri, and the app. I'd imagine that's 10x-100x more common than pure time based automations based on the HA fora.
- orev 2y ago
  I did this for a long time with timer switches that could be programmed similarly, and switching to HA wasn’t some huge change, it was just nicer. I had to periodically make sure the clock was correct on them, as they would drift a few minutes, and the interface itself was via small LCD screen and buttons. HA is just a nicer experience, but I wouldn’t say it (or any home automation) is a “need”. It’s better seen as something for tech people to tinker with once they’ve settled a bit in life and are looking for something to do.
  - jjeaff 2y ago
    I'm guessing you have to do a bit more in maintenance for your Home Assistant instance than set the clock every once and a while?
    - orev 2y ago
      Not much more than just clicking an update button once in a while. But that’s a standard workflow most people are used to. Updating the clock on the standalone timers has to be done using a tiny LCD screen with an esoteric menu system while holding a manual/pamphlet that’s printed in less than 6pt text. It’s not something you do often enough to remember the procedure. Of course you can make things more complicated if you want to in HA, or you can set it and mostly forget it if you just use timers.
deadbunny 2y ago
This has been on my list of things to do for a while, saves me a job. Thanks for sharing.
hunter2_ 2y ago
Growing up, my parents always made sure the radio was on, slightly louder than a normal volume, whenever we left the house. Funny seeing how that idea of presence simulation has evolved.

144 points by edward 2y ago

enobrev 2y ago

Simulated presence in our home: Motion-triggered lights and a cat

starxidas 2y ago
Sure, but cats sleep around 35 hours a day.
- drdaeman 2y ago
  Fortunately, presence simulation is only needed at dusk/night - when cats have their zoomies.
  - glitchcrab 2y ago
    This would be a dead giveaway that I wasn't home; my cats tend to get the zoomies in the small hours.
nurettin 2y ago
I need some of those cat-sensitive motion triggers.
- reaperducer 2y ago
  Old school hardware stores have them. They screw in between the lightbulb and the lamp.
  - enobrev 2y ago
    My z-wave sensors of various brands tend to recognize my cat. Most of them have a "pet" setting which is supposed to ignore them, but then I would lose my entire security system.

bobchadwick 2y ago

I used this last week! I was out of town and a friend texted me letting me know the lights in my house were on. I got such a sense of joy in knowing that it was working as intended.

dharbin 2y ago

Can it automate a cutout of Michael Jordan attached to a model train set?

jeroenhd 2y ago
You jest, but with an ESP32 flashed with ESPHome and a few dollars of electronics to regulate the power, I think controlling model trains would actually be quite doable. Your biggest challenge is probably dealing with network/scripting latency for events that need to happen in quick succession, like when dealing with switches. Or, if you consider Lego DUPLO trains to be model trains, there's this: https://community.home-assistant.io/t/lego-duplo-train-control-with-esphome/637816/21 https://community.home-assistant.io/t/lego-duplo-train-contr... Edit: there's also this https://github.com/aaron9589/esphome-for-model-railroading https://github.com/aaron9589/esphome-for-model-railroading for the more serious model railroad enthusiast, though I'm not 100% sure if that actually controls the trains themselves (or just the switches and lights)
- shimon 2y ago
  In many cases, a simple off-the-shelf smart plug would suffice.
  - ewoodrich 2y ago
    That's why I try as hard as I can to find either truly "dumb" devices with mechanical switches vs momentary buttons or devices that remember their last state after A/C power is restored. Hard to figure out the second option though without trying it unless a review happens to mention it specifically.
- sofixa 2y ago
  Awesome. The Home Assistant and related (ESPHome, Voice Assistant, Music Assistanc) communities are amazing and there is just a crazy amount of projects one can just pick up and use.
moandcompany 2y ago
It could also automate ordering pizza delivery and the tipping process to "Keep the change, ya filthy animal"

bloopernova 2y ago

Slightly related, please forgive the offtopicness: has anyone implemented a DIY UWB location base + beacon/tag? I ask because my neurodivergent wife loses things, and often Tile either doesn't work or isn't load enough. I read that UWB promises 10cm² or 10cm³ accuracy, which would be ideal for finding lost stuff. I've seen a couple of commercial offerings, but they didn't have pricing.

__sy__ 2y ago
I don't know if it will count as DIY, but take a look at LEGIC and their devkit for this. We (seam) work with them and I recall seeing a couple of startups doing demo's of their UWB solution at their LEGIC Connect conference.
Rebelgecko 2y ago
I used some Decawave kits ~a decade ago and they worked pretty well... however if you want to DIY something as usable as Airtags I think the main struggle would be getting the package compact and with low power consumption (unless you want to track large things and are fine with a chonky battery)
jitl 2y ago
The generic stuff in the "Find My" ecosystem works quite well. It's not DIY, but most things have UWB finding that works whole-house for me.

Fokamul 2y ago

Hm I'm not sure if this helps. Because thieves will first knock on doors, even for tens of minutes. Ring etc. Normally people will open and thief will say some BS and go away. Cameras with backup power and backup internet connection is your first priority.

Geezus_42 2y ago
Funny because I never answer my door when anyone knocks. If you're knocking on my door it's because I don't know you, which means I probably don't want to talk to you. Anyone who knows me knows to call or text before they come by.
- baq 2y ago
  I have kids, neighbors have kids, door is knocked on all the time.
  - reaperducer 2y ago
    You don't even have to have kids. When I was at my last house, I didn't have kids, and people would knock on my door every day. It was because my block was full of neighbors who were friendly and nice to one another, and not shut in their houses like hermits. The way many people in the suburbs live these days, they'd might as well live in windowless metal shipping containers.
    - barbazoo 2y ago
      You're so right. If you life in a neighborhood that even vaguely resembles some kind of community then you're really really lucky!
- sofixa 2y ago
  What if it's like, a utility company trying to warn you they'll cut off power/water/whatever in a few minutes because of emergency works?

joshstrange 2y ago

Just a note to anyone interested in trying out Home Assistant: It's amazing _but_ do NOT use a raspberry pi to run it. Save yourself a ton of headaches and buy a mini pc (there was a list of used mini pcs posted here yesterday from ebay). Also I recommend using HAOS (or whatever the "we install and run the whole OS" option is called) so that you can use things like plugins without messing around with docker. I love docker but trust me, life is easier on HAOS. I liked HA but felt like it wasn't really "stable". I used a Pi 3 for a while, then a Pi 4 decked out (highest ram, NVME storage, super nice case, etc) and still felt like it was unstable. I chalked this up to HA but then rolled the dice on a Beelink mini pc and it has been rock solid ever since. Also don't be misled by the lower price of the Pi, I paid more for my Pi 4 setup than the Beelink (or about the same). I blamed everything from the Zigbee/Z-wave dongles, to HAOS, to HA itself, etc but in the end it was RPi. The 4 was the last Pi I'll ever buy. EDIT: I was in a hurry and didn't add my normal disclaimer when I talk about the RPi's: Yes I know some of you have a Pi 1 that been running you entire life since it first came out and you think I'm full of crap. I've owned every Pi 1-4 and never been truly happy with them. I bought them "raw" and sourced all the parts myself, I bought high-end (at least in price) kits with everything included, I bought all official accessories (like power), they always were just that little bit unstable. It would work great for days/weeks then randomly not be reachable (wired or wireless). I spent just shy of $200 for my last "builds" which included a NVME drive (240G, lest you think this is where the cost was), RPi case, RPi NVME hat, RPi 4 8gb model, SD card, power, etc and the result was still instability. I don't know what to tell you. Maybe I'm a moron but my experience with them has not been great. That said I want to love them and I loved my RPi 1B even with all it's warts, a $35 "credit card sized" computer was awesome. Maybe I just don't want to tinker as much anymore and value stability.

vaindil 2y ago
Counterpoint: I've been running HAOS on an RPi 2 and 3 for several years without a single issue, and I do use a z-wave dongle but no Zigbee. I only do basic stuff with it (a few automations for my z-wave thermostat and switches, AdGuard Home), but it's been rock solid for me. I only had issues once, when I tried to run the Unifi Network Application addon. A RPi is not strong enough for that, but I just uninstalled it and moved on.

jitl 2y ago

I use a normal automation to turn on the lights every day at sundown, and to turn off the lights every night at ($BEDTIME + 1hr), just as part of daily life. I don't need anything tricky to simulate that pattern when I'm traveling; I just don't disable the automation. I wonder how many people using HomeAssitant for their lights are manually turning lights on and off all the time. I would think most people would set up a daily or weekday + weeknight schedule and be done with it.

closewith 2y ago
We have some automations, but mostly use homebridge and Apple Home scenes controlled by presence, smart switches, Siri, and the app. I'd imagine that's 10x-100x more common than pure time based automations based on the HA fora.
orev 2y ago
I did this for a long time with timer switches that could be programmed similarly, and switching to HA wasn’t some huge change, it was just nicer. I had to periodically make sure the clock was correct on them, as they would drift a few minutes, and the interface itself was via small LCD screen and buttons. HA is just a nicer experience, but I wouldn’t say it (or any home automation) is a “need”. It’s better seen as something for tech people to tinker with once they’ve settled a bit in life and are looking for something to do.
- jjeaff 2y ago
  I'm guessing you have to do a bit more in maintenance for your Home Assistant instance than set the clock every once and a while?
  - orev 2y ago
    Not much more than just clicking an update button once in a while. But that’s a standard workflow most people are used to. Updating the clock on the standalone timers has to be done using a tiny LCD screen with an esoteric menu system while holding a manual/pamphlet that’s printed in less than 6pt text. It’s not something you do often enough to remember the procedure. Of course you can make things more complicated if you want to in HA, or you can set it and mostly forget it if you just use timers.

deadbunny 2y ago

This has been on my list of things to do for a while, saves me a job. Thanks for sharing.

hunter2_ 2y ago

Growing up, my parents always made sure the radio was on, slightly louder than a normal volume, whenever we left the house. Funny seeing how that idea of presence simulation has evolved.