Apollo Automation Takes CES 2026 by Storm
CES 2026 in Las Vegas was an incredible experience for Apollo Automation! As a Works With Home Assistant certified partner, Made For ESPHome member, and the Open Home Foundation's newest commercial partner, we had an amazing time connecting with the smart home community, meeting content creators, and showcasing our Kentucky-made, privacy-first IoT sensors.
From the record-breaking Home Assistant community meetup to countless conversations about local control and open-source smart home technology, CES 2026 proved that the future of smart homes is private, local, and community-driven.
Home Assistant Community Meetup: Double the Size!
Record Attendance at CES 2026
The Home Assistant community meetup at CES 2026 was absolutely phenomenal, drawing double the attendance of CES 2025. Hundreds of Home Assistant enthusiasts, developers, manufacturers, and content creators gathered to celebrate open-source smart home technology and discuss the future of local control.
As a Works With Home Assistant certified partner and Open Home Foundation commercial partner, Apollo Automation was thrilled to participate in this milestone event. The energy and passion of the Home Assistant community continues to inspire everything we build.
Why the Home Assistant Meetup Matters
The explosive growth of the Home Assistant meetup at CES reflects several important trends:
Growing demand for privacy-first smart homes - More users are rejecting cloud-dependent devices and choosing local control.
Open-source momentum - ESPHome, Home Assistant, and related projects continue gaining mainstream adoption.
Community over corporations - People want smart home ecosystems built by users, for users, not profit-driven corporations.
Works With Home Assistant certification appeal - Manufacturers recognize the value of official certification and community trust.
Apollo Automation's participation demonstrates our commitment to this growing movement and our role as both a certified partner and Open Home Foundation commercial supporter.
Meeting the Smart Home Content Creator Community
YouTube Stars and Podcast Hosts
One of the highlights of CES 2026 was connecting with incredible content creators who educate, inspire, and entertain the smart home community. We had amazing conversations with:
Smart Home YouTubers and Tech Reviewers:
• Reed - Smart Home Solver - Comprehensive Home Assistant tutorials and smart home solutions
• Colton - Linus Tech Tips - One of the world's largest tech channels covering everything from PCs to smart homes
• Jake - Jakkuh - Gaming and tech content with smart home integration
• Alex and Andy - Zip Tie Tuning / Zip Tie Tech - Automotive tech and smart home automation
• Josh - Josh's Smart Home - Practical Home Assistant guides and device reviews
• Ryan - The Smart House - In-depth smart home automation tutorials
• Pete - DIY Smart Home Guy - DIY smart home projects and ESPHome expertise
• Paul Hibbert - UK-based smart home reviews and humor
• Jimmy - Automated House - Advanced Home Assistant automations and integrations
Smart Home Podcasts:
• Technical Difficulties Podcast - Tech discussions covering smart homes and more
• TJ, Gavin, and Seth - Hometech.fm Podcast - Deep dives into smart home technology and trends
• Phil and Rohan - Home Assistant Podcast - Official Home Assistant community podcast
• Richard - DMZ Podcast - Tech and smart home discussions
Media and Industry Experts:
• Dan - Consumer Reports - Trusted product testing and consumer advocacy
• David - Matter Alpha - Matter protocol insights and smart home standards
Industry Partners:
• Agnes - Zooz - Leading Z-Wave device manufacturer and Home Assistant partner
Why Content Creator Relationships Matter
These content creators play a crucial role in the smart home ecosystem:
Education - Teaching users how to build better smart homes with Home Assistant and ESPHome
Reviews - Providing honest, thorough evaluations of smart home products
Community building - Creating spaces for enthusiasts to connect and learn
Advocacy - Championing privacy-first, locally-controlled smart home technology
Apollo Automation values these relationships because they help spread awareness of open-source alternatives to cloud-dependent smart home devices.
Apollo Automation: Who We Are
Kentucky-Made Smart Home Sensors
Apollo Automation is a Versailles, Kentucky-based IoT sensor manufacturer specializing in privacy-first, locally-controlled smart home devices. Founded in 2023, we've grown from a basement operation to a thriving manufacturing facility creating high-tech jobs in Central Appalachia.
Our Mission:
- Build smart home sensors that respect user privacy
- Support open-source ecosystems like Home Assistant and ESPHome
- Create meaningful manufacturing jobs in Kentucky
- Prove that American IoT manufacturing can thrive
Official Certifications and Partnerships
Works With Home Assistant Certified
Apollo Automation was the first company to bring ESPHome-based devices into the Works With Home Assistant certification program. This prestigious certification guarantees:
✅ Seamless Home Assistant integration out of the box
✅ Local API support for complete privacy
✅ Reliable performance meeting strict quality standards
✅ Active community support and regular updates
✅ No cloud dependencies or subscriptions required
Made For ESPHome
All Apollo sensors are certified Made For ESPHome, ensuring:
✅ Open-source ESPHome firmware
✅ Full customization capabilities
✅ Over-the-air (OTA) updates
✅ Complete code transparency
✅ Community-driven development
Open Home Foundation Commercial Partner
In December 2025, Apollo became the Open Home Foundation's second commercial partner (alongside Nabu Casa). As a commercial partner, we:
✅ Build the first official ESPHome-branded hardware
✅ Contribute majority of profits from ESPHome products to the foundation
✅ Support continued development of open-source smart home technology
✅ Ensure Home Assistant and ESPHome remain free, private, and locally-controlled forever
Homey Partner
Apollo devices integrate seamlessly with Homey smart home hubs, expanding our reach beyond Home Assistant to serve multiple platforms while maintaining our commitment to local control.
Apollo Automation Product Lineup at CES 2026
AIR-1 Air Quality Monitor
The AIR-1 is our most comprehensive environmental monitoring solution, featured at CES 2026.
Key features:
- Sensirion SEN55 sensor (PM1, PM2.5, PM4, PM10, VOC, NOx, temperature, humidity)
- Optional SCD40 CO2 sensor with barometric pressure calibration
- Optional MiCS-4514 gas sensor (CO, methane, ammonia, ethanol, hydrogen)
- RGB LED pixels for visual notifications
- Bluetooth tracking for presence detection
- Compact 61 × 61 × 30 mm design
Works With Home Assistant certified and perfect for:
- Indoor air quality monitoring
- HVAC automation triggers
- Woodworking shop safety
- Sleep quality optimization
- Smart home environmental control
MSR-2 Compact Presence Sensor
The MSR-2 is Apollo's smallest mmWave presence sensor, showcased at CES 2026.
Key features:
- HLK-LD2410B mmWave radar with 6m range
- Excellent static presence detection (detects stationary people)
- LTR-390UV sensor for ambient lux and UV index
- DPS310 pressure and temperature monitoring
- Optional SCD-40 CO2 module
- RGB NeoPixel LED and piezo buzzer
- Bluetooth tracking support
Works With Home Assistant certified and ideal for:
- Room occupancy automation
- Lighting control based on presence
- HVAC efficiency improvements
- Security monitoring
- Smart home presence detection
MTR-1 Multi-Target Radar Sensor
The MTR-1 brings multi-target tracking to Home Assistant.
Key features:
- HLK-LD2450 radar tracks up to 3 targets simultaneously
- Multi-zone detection (configure up to 3 zones)
- Environmental sensors (LUX/UV, temperature, barometric pressure)
- Optional SCD-40 CO2 and humidity monitoring
- Ultra-compact 49 × 32 × 15 mm design
- RGB NeoPixel LED and piezo buzzer
Works With Home Assistant certified and perfect for:
- Zone-based home automation
- Multi-person tracking
- Kitchen vs living room presence detection
- Security applications
- Advanced smart lighting scenes
R PRO-1 PoE Professional Sensor
The R PRO-1 represents professional-grade presence detection with clean PoE installation.
Key features:
- True 802.3af Power over Ethernet
- Dual mmWave modules (LD2450 + optional LD2412)
- Professional installation (gang box and ceiling mount compatible)
- Environmental monitoring (LTR-390 for lux/UV, optional SCD40 for CO2)
- RGB LEDs and buzzer for status indicators
- Long-range detection up to 9m
Works With Home Assistant certified and ideal for:
- Professional smart home installations
- Commercial building automation
- Clean wall or ceiling mounting
- PoE network infrastructure integration
- Advanced presence detection systems
TEMP-1 Temperature Sensor
The TEMP-1 versatile temperature monitoring solution.
Key features:
- AHT20-F sensor for ambient temperature and humidity
- Multiple probe support (DS18B20 waterproof, NTC food-safe)
- USB-C powered (TEMP-1) or battery powered (TEMP-1B)
- RGB LED and buzzer for temperature alerts
- Magnetic mount option
- Compact 48 × 30 × 14 mm design
Works With Home Assistant certified and perfect for:
- Smart cooking and grilling temperature monitoring
- Refrigerator and freezer alerts
- Aquarium and fish tank temperature
- HVAC vent monitoring
- Food safety applications
PLT-1 Plant Sensor
The PLT-1 smart plant monitoring solution.
Key features:
- Capacitive soil moisture sensor (long-lasting, accurate)
- AHT20-F air temperature and humidity
- LTR390 ambient lux and UV index
- Optional DS18B20 soil temperature probe
- RGB LED and buzzer for low moisture alerts
- USB-C or battery powered options
Works With Home Assistant certified and ideal for:
- Smart plant care automation
- Indoor gardening monitoring
- Open Plant Book integration
- Grow light automation
- Plant health notifications
PUMP-1 Fluid Pump Controller
The PUMP-1 smart pump automation.
Key features:
- Food-safe construction for potable liquids
- 900 ml/min flow rate (14 ft vertical, 33 ft horizontal)
- Dual ultrasonic sensors (detects empty source or full target)
- RGB LED and buzzer status alerts
- ESP32-C6 powered with Wi-Fi
- ESPHome and Home Assistant compatible
Works With Home Assistant certified and perfect for:
- Automated plant watering systems
- Aquarium water changes
- Pet bowl automatic filling
- Robot mop tank management
- Drain control automation
BTN-1 Macro Deck - NEW RELEASE!
The BTN-1 modular control interface launched at CES 2026!
Key features:
- Four hot-swappable Cherry MX compatible mechanical switches
- LED status indicators in front of each button
- Modular expansion (displays, NFC readers, rotary dials, sensors)
- USB-C or battery powered
- Wi-Fi connectivity for Home Assistant integration
- Home Assistant blueprint for easy setup
- NEW: Zigbee firmware available for community testing!
Works With Home Assistant certified and ideal for:
- Smart home physical control panels
- Stream deck commands and macros
- Media controls
- Custom macro programming
- IoT project interfaces
Now shipping! Shop BTN-1 →
M-1 LED Matrix
The M-1 programmable display.
Key features:
- 4096-pixel HUB75 display with 2mm pitch
- Built-in controller with WLED-MM firmware pre-installed
- USB-C powered (5V, 3A)
- Expandable (connect up to four panels)
- 6.3″ × 6.3″ compact design
- Multiple mounting options
Works With Home Assistant certified and perfect for:
- Smart home visual notifications
- Real-time data displays
- Ambient lighting and art
- Custom animations
- Gaming displays and scoreboards
Development Boards
DEV-1 (ESP32-C3) and DEV-2 (ESP32-C6) development boards for custom IoT projects.
DEV-2 features:
- ESP32-C6-MINI-1 chipset
- Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, Thread, and Zigbee connectivity
- GPIO pins and I2C support
- Onboard RGB LED
- Pre-soldered headers
- Perfect for Home Assistant custom devices
Why Privacy-First Smart Homes Matter
The Problem with Cloud-Dependent Devices
CES 2026 featured countless smart home devices that rely on cloud services, subscriptions, and data collection. Recent news highlights why this model is problematic:
Chamberlain garage door openers blocking local control to force cloud subscriptions
Smart toilet cameras with misleading "end-to-end encryption" that actually process images on company servers
Neato vacuum cloud shutdown threatening to brick thousands of devices
iRobot bankruptcy raising concerns about Roomba cloud service continuity
These stories prove that local control isn't just a preference - it's essential for device longevity, user privacy, and smart home reliability.
Apollo's Commitment to Local Control
Every Apollo device features:
100% local control - No cloud services required for any functionality
No subscriptions - Buy once, own forever with no recurring fees
No data collection - Your smart home data stays in YOUR home
Open-source firmware - Complete transparency and customization through ESPHome
Works offline - Continue functioning even without internet connectivity
This philosophy aligns perfectly with Home Assistant's mission and the Open Home Foundation's vision for the future of smart homes.
Open Home Foundation Commercial Partnership
Supporting the Ecosystem That Made Us Possible
Apollo Automation's partnership with the Open Home Foundation represents our commitment to giving back to the open-source ecosystem that enabled our success.
What we're doing as a commercial partner:
📍 Building the first official ESPHome-branded hardware
📍 Contributing majority of profits from ESPHome products to the foundation
📍 Supporting infrastructure and development costs
📍 Ensuring Home Assistant and ESPHome remain free forever
📍 Advancing open-source smart home standards
H-2 Holiday Ornament Charitable Initiative
Through our H-2 Holiday Ornament charitable product, we donated:
$2,700 to CASA of Lexington - Supporting advocates for children in Kentucky's foster care system
$1,500 to Open Home Foundation - Advancing open-source smart home technology
$4,200 total - 100% of H-2 profits went directly to these causes
This demonstrates that businesses can succeed while prioritizing charitable giving and community support.
Kentucky Manufacturing Excellence
Creating High-Tech Jobs in Central Appalachia
Apollo Automation is proud to manufacture all products in Versailles, Kentucky, creating meaningful high-tech jobs in Central Appalachia.
What Kentucky manufacturing means:
✅ Designed in Kentucky - All engineering happens in Versailles
✅ Assembled in Kentucky - Final assembly at our facility
✅ Quality controlled in Kentucky - Testing and QC processes
✅ Shipped from Kentucky - Direct fulfillment from our warehouse
✅ Supported from Kentucky - Customer service and technical support
We're keeping University of Kentucky graduates in-state, combating brain drain, and proving that American IoT manufacturing can compete globally.
CES 2026 Smart Home Technology Trends
What We Observed at CES 2026
CES 2026 in Las Vegas showcased several important smart home trends:
Matter protocol adoption - More devices supporting the Matter standard for interoperability
Local processing emphasis - Growing recognition that edge computing and local control matter
Privacy concerns rising - Consumers increasingly questioning cloud-dependent devices
Open-source momentum - Home Assistant and ESPHome gaining mainstream recognition
Professional installation demand - More professional installers seeking reliable, certified products
Community over corporations - Users preferring community-driven platforms over proprietary ecosystems
Apollo Automation's presence at CES 2026 demonstrates that small manufacturers can compete by focusing on quality, privacy, open-source support, and community engagement.
Home Assistant Ecosystem Growth
Why Home Assistant Continues Winning
The Home Assistant community meetup at CES 2026 doubled in size compared to 2025, reflecting explosive ecosystem growth:
Millions of installations worldwide and growing rapidly
Works With Home Assistant certification attracting major manufacturers
Open Home Foundation support ensuring long-term sustainability
ESPHome adoption making custom device creation accessible
Matter and Thread support embracing new open standards
Voice Assistant development offering privacy-first alternatives to Alexa and Google
Apollo Automation is honored to be part of this movement as a certified partner and commercial supporter.
Community Engagement and Support
Join the Apollo Community
Connect with Apollo Automation and the broader Home Assistant community:
Discord: dsc.gg/apolloautomation
- Technical support from Apollo team
- Community help and advice
- Project sharing and inspiration
- Beta testing opportunities
YouTube: @ApolloAutomation
- Monthly livestreams
- Product tutorials
- Behind-the-scenes content
- Community project showcases
GitHub: github.com/ApolloAutomation
- Open-source firmware
- Hardware designs
- ESPHome configurations
- Community contributions
Wiki: wiki.apolloautomation.com
- Setup guides
- Troubleshooting help
- Advanced configurations
- Integration tutorials
Monthly Livestreams
Join us for monthly Apollo Live Streams featuring:
- Product updates and announcements
- Behind-the-scenes R&D
- Community Q&A sessions
- Special guest appearances
- Giveaways and prizes
Looking Forward: 2026 and Beyond
What's Next for Apollo Automation
Coming out of CES 2026, we're more excited than ever about the future:
Product development:
- First official ESPHome-branded hardware as Open Home Foundation commercial partner
- Expanded protocol support (Thread, Zigbee, Z-Wave Long Range)
- New sensor categories based on community feedback
- BTN-1 Zigbee firmware (available for community testing now!)
Events and community:
- IFA Berlin 2026 return
- More Home Assistant meetups
- Increased content creator collaborations
- Expanded educational resources
Manufacturing growth:
- Scaling Kentucky production capacity
- Improving fulfillment efficiency
- International distribution partnerships
- Continued commitment to American manufacturing
Charitable initiatives:
- Future H-series ornaments supporting charity
- Expanded Open Home Foundation contributions
- Local Kentucky community support
Thank You to the Community
CES 2026 Was Incredible Because of You
Our experience at CES 2026 in Las Vegas was amazing because of:
✨ Content creators who educate and inspire the community
✨ Home Assistant users who choose privacy and local control
✨ Open-source contributors who make ESPHome and Home Assistant possible
✨ Industry partners like Zooz who share our values
✨ Event organizers who brought the community together
✨ Everyone who stopped by to chat, ask questions, and share their projects
If we forgot to mention you by name, we sincerely apologize! The CES experience was a whirlwind of amazing conversations, and we're grateful to everyone who connected with us.
Get Started with Apollo Automation
Shop Privacy-First Smart Home Sensors
Ready to build a truly private, locally-controlled smart home?
Browse our complete catalog: apolloautomation.com
Popular products:
All devices feature:
✅ Works With Home Assistant certification
✅ Made For ESPHome
✅ 100% local control
✅ No cloud or subscriptions
✅ Kentucky manufacturing
For Content Creators
Interested in reviewing Apollo products or joining our affiliate program?
Contact us: support@apolloautomation.com
Apollo Automation designs, engineers, and manufactures privacy-first smart home sensors in Versailles, Kentucky. As a Works With Home Assistant certified partner, Made For ESPHome member, Open Home Foundation commercial partner, and Homey partner, we're committed to open-source smart home technology that respects your privacy. Learn more at apolloautomation.com.
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