LD2410 Sensor with ESP32 – Human Presence Detection

Overview
This article is about the usage of the
LD2410
Human Presence Detection Sensor with
ESP32
. Earlier we used motion detection sensors like
PIR Sensor
to detect motion when any object is moving. The PIR Sensor works by measuring the
infrared (IR) light
emitted from, or reflected by, that object.
The
Hi-Link LD2410 mmWave radar sensor
is a game-changer for precise
human presence detection
. Unlike traditional PIR sensors that only trigger on movement, the LD2410 detects both
stationary occupants
(e.g., someone sitting or sleeping) and
motion
. This makes it ideal for automation scenarios where accuracy is critical.
In this tutorial, we’ll understand the
LD2410
capabilities by interfacing it with an
ESP32 microcontroller
. We will create a versatile
Human Presence Detection System
. The setup includes two LEDs: a
red LED
to signal when a person is stationary (at rest) and a
green LED
to indicate active motion. Additionally,
real-time detection data
, including distance metrics (
up to 6 meters
), will be displayed on a 0.96-inch
OLED screen
, providing immediate visual feedback. A 60GHz mmWave sensor called
C1001
is also available in market, which is more advanced.
Bill of Materials
We need following components for this tutorial. You can purchase all these components from the given links.
S.N.
Components Name
Quantity
Purchase Link
1
ESP32 Board
1
Amazon
AliExpress
2
LD2410 Millimeter Wave Presence Sensor
1
Amazon
AliExpress
3
0.96\" OLED Display
1
Amazon
AliExpress
4
Connecting Wires
10
Amazon
AliExpress
5
Breadboard
1
Amazon
AliExpress
Different Types of HiLink Millimeter Wave Presence Sensor
HiLink
manufactures
6
different types of HiLink Millimeter Wave Presence Sensors. They are named as
LD2410C
LD2410S
LD2450
LD2411
LD2410B
, and
LD2461
Here are the differences between these sensors.
Model
Detection Range
Key Features
Supported Protocols
Use Cases
LD2410B
Up to
6 meters
Basic human presence detection (stationary/moving), UART/GPIO control
UART, GPIO
Home automation, lighting control
LD2410C
Up to
6 meters
Bluetooth for configuration, reduced false triggers, optimized static detection
UART, GPIO,
Bluetooth
Offices, security systems
LD2410S
Up to
5 meters
Compact design, low power consumption, simplified configuration
UART
IoT devices, small spaces
LD2450
Up to
8 meters
Multi-zone detection (3 zones), Bluetooth Low Energy (BLE)
UART,
BLE
Retail analytics, large-area monitoring
LD2411-S
Moving:
6m
, Micro-motion:
3.5m
Directional sensing (±20° azimuth, ±45° elevation), motion/micro-motion detection
UART,
Bluetooth
Smart homes, access control, lighting
LD2461
Moving:
8m
, Static:
6m
3D spatial sensing, multi-target tracking (up to 5 targets), Ethernet support
UART,
Ethernet
Industrial automation, smart cities
In case you are looking for BLE or WiFi connectivity, you should choose the sensor based on the following table.
Feature
LD2410B
LD2410C
LD2410S
LD2450
LD2411-S
LD2461
Bluetooth
❌
✔️
❌
✔️ (BLE)
✔️
❌
Angle Detection
❌
❌
❌
❌
✔️ (±20°)
✔️ (3D spatial)
Multi-Target Tracking
❌
❌
❌
❌
❌
✔️ (5 targets)
Industrial Use
❌
❌
❌
❌
❌
✔️ (Ethernet)
For DIY projects, the
LD2410B & LD2410C
are popular for their balance of cost and performance. The
LD2450
and
LD2461
cater to professional setups requiring scalability and precision.
LD2410C mmWave Radar Sensor
The
HLK-LD2410C
is a
24GHz
FMCW (
Frequency-Modulated Continuous Wav
e) radar module designed for
human presence detection
It detects both
stationary
(e.g., sitting, sleeping) and
moving
humans up to
6 meters
, with a resolution of
0.75m
. Ideal for smart home automation, security systems, and energy-saving applications.
LD2410C
Sensor Working
The HLK-LD2410C sensor operates using
Frequency-Modulated Continuous Wave (FMCW) radar
technology. It emits a continuous microwave signal that linearly increases in frequency over time. When this signal encounters an object—such as a human—the reflected wave is captured by the sensor.
Fig: LD2410C Sensor Working
By analyzing the frequency difference and time delay between the transmitted and reflected signals, the sensor calculates the target’s
distance
and distinguishes between
stationary
(e.g., sitting, sleeping) and
moving
humans.
Embedded
algorithms
further process this data to filter out non-human objects (e.g., pets, moving curtains) by evaluating
energy patterns
and
motion characteristics
unique to humans, ensuring reliable detection even in complex environments.
LD2410C
Features & Specifications
Detection Range
: 0.75–6 meters (adjustable).
Angular Coverage
: ±60° horizontal.
Communication
: UART (256000 baud), GPIO, Bluetooth (BLE) for configuration.
Power
: 5V DC, ~79mA average current.
Dimensions
: 16mm × 22mm.
Key Features
:
Adjustable sensitivity zones.
Visual configuration tools (PC/mobile app).
OTA firmware updates via Bluetooth.
LD2410C
Pinout
The LD2410C has 5 Pins as follows:
Pin
Symbol
Function
1
UART_Tx
Serial data transmission (to host)
2
UART_Rx
Serial data reception (from host)
3
OUT
High/Low output (human detected)
4
GND
Ground
5
VCC
5-12V power input
LD2410C
Applications & Use
Smart Lighting
: Auto-control lights based on human presence.
Security Systems
: Detect intrusions or unauthorized presence.
Appliance Control
: Wake/sleep TVs, ACs, or displays when humans enter/leave.
Safety Systems
: Prevent UV lamp activation when humans are nearby.
Installation
: Wall/ceiling-mounted; works through non-metallic materials (plastic, glass).
Note
: The LD2410C’s
Bluetooth support
enables wireless tuning via the
HLKRadarTools
app, distinguishing it from the LD2410B/S models. Refer to
LD2410C Datasheet
for more detailed information.
LD2410C Sensor Configuration and Data Visualization
You can use different tools to see the data from the sensor. The two most common ones are the
LD2410 Tool
(provided by the sensor manufacturer) and the
LD2410 Web Configurator
To use them first connect the sensor with a
USB-to-TTL Converter
module (FTDI Module).
Fig: LD2410 Tool communication via FTDI Module
To start:
Open one of the tools.
Set the correct
baud rate
(usually
256,000
) and select the right
COM port
(as configured earlier).
Click
“Start”
to begin receiving data.
The tool will display a
graphical view
of the sensor’s detections, showing different
zones
around it. Each zone represents a different
sensitivity range
. If you run into connection issues, make sure no other programs (like the
Arduino IDE
) are using the same port.
Fig: LD2410 Tool
The sensor has
eight zones
, and you can adjust their sensitivity. As you move closer or farther from the sensor, you’ll see the zones activate in real-time. You can
increase or decrease
sensitivity for each zone based on your needs. For example, you might want higher sensitivity for detecting movement
far away
and lower sensitivity for areas
close to the sensor
Fig: LD2410 Web Configurator
To fine-tune the settings:
Double-click
on the zone settings in the tool.
Adjust
“moving sensitivity”
and
“stationary sensitivity”
as needed.
This customization helps the sensor work better for your specific project, whether it’s for indoor motion detection or outdoor security monitoring.
Interfacing LD2410 with ESP32 – Human Presence Detection
Now let us interface the
LD2410C with ESP32
and write some Arduino
C++ Code
for Human Presence Detection. Here is the connection diagram which is very simple.
Fig: LD210C ESP32 Connection & Circuit
The Pin connection is as follows.
ESP32 Pin
LD2410C Pin
GPIO 16
TX
GPIO 17
RX
GND
GND
5V
VCC
Connect the LD2410C with ESP32 on a breadboard or simply use female-to-female jumper wires.
Basic ESP32 LD2410 Test Code for Human Presence Detection
Lets develop an Arduino
C++ Code
to interface
LD2410C Sensor with ESP32
. There is a dedicated
library
written for
Hi-Link LD2410 24Ghz FMCW radar sensor
. First Download the
LD2410 Library
and add it to the Arduino library folder.
The code initializes the radar o