As we step into 2026, Apollo Automation is more energized than ever about the future of privacy-first, locally-controlled smart home automation. From our workshop in Versailles, Kentucky, we're expanding our commitment to open source technology, community-driven development, and American manufacturing. This year brings exciting partnerships, new products, and continued growth as we work alongside the Home Assistant and ESPHome communities to build the smart home devices you actually want.
A Historic Partnership with the Open Home Foundation
We're incredibly proud to announce that Apollo Automation has become the second commercial partner of the Open Home Foundation, joining Nabu Casa in supporting the open source smart home ecosystem. This partnership represents more than just a business relationship; it's a commitment to the principles that drive everything we do: privacy, local control, and community ownership of smart home technology.
The Open Home Foundation delivered their inaugural State of the Open Home address last April, and we're eagerly anticipating the next address scheduled for April 8, 2026. These addresses outline their vision for making privacy-respecting, locally-controlled smart homes accessible to everyone. At Apollo Automation, we share this vision completely. Every sensor we design, every line of code we write, and every decision we make prioritizes your privacy and control over your own home automation system.
As part of this partnership, we're developing our first official ESPHome-branded hardware in collaboration with the Open Home Foundation team. This project combines Apollo's expertise in sensor design and manufacturing with the ESPHome community's feedback to create something truly special. We can't share all the details yet, but this device will exemplify what's possible when open source principles meet professional hardware development.
What This Partnership Means for the Smart Home Community
Our partnership with the Open Home Foundation reinforces our commitment to supporting the open source ecosystem financially and technically. A significant portion of profits from our ESPHome-powered devices will go directly to the Open Home Foundation, helping fund the development and maintenance of the tools that power millions of smart homes worldwide.
This makes Apollo Automation the first company to bring ESPHome devices into the Works With Home Assistant certification program, setting a new standard for how commercial products can integrate with and support open source platforms. We believe this model proves that businesses can succeed while staying true to open source values and putting community interests first.
2026 Product Roadmap: Community-Driven Innovation
At Apollo Automation, we don't develop products in isolation. Every device we create starts with community feedback, evolves through beta testing with real users, and ships only when it meets the high standards our customers expect. This year, we have several exciting projects in development:
Official ESPHome Device (Coming 2026)
Our collaboration with the Open Home Foundation team is producing our first official ESPHome-branded device. Built on the feedback from thousands of ESPHome users and designed with input from the core development team, this sensor will showcase the best of what's possible with ESPHome. More details coming soon.
Upcoming Releases and Projects
We're working on several new products and major updates to existing devices based on your requests and feedback. While we can't reveal everything yet, expect to see continued innovation in mmWave presence detection, environmental monitoring, and smart home control interfaces throughout 2026.
Our community-driven development process means you have a direct voice in what we build next. Through our Discord server, monthly livestreams, and Feedback Squad program, we actively incorporate user suggestions into our product roadmap. If there's a sensor or automation device you wish existed, we want to hear about it.
Current Product Lineup: Privacy-First Smart Home Sensors
Apollo Automation manufactures a comprehensive range of smart home sensors, all designed for seamless integration with Home Assistant, ESPHome, and other open source platforms. Every device operates entirely locally with no cloud dependency, no subscriptions, and no data collection. Here's what we currently offer:
Presence Detection Sensors
MSR-2 mmWave Multisensor ($37.99 - $57.99)
The MSR-2 remains our smallest and most popular presence sensor, featuring the HLK-LD2410B mmWave radar for exceptional still-motion detection. Perfect for bedroom and living room automation, the MSR-2 excels at detecting stationary targets, making it ideal for monitoring people on beds, couches, and desks. Optional SCD-40 CO2 sensor adds air quality monitoring, while the compact 40mm x 24mm x 15mm design fits anywhere discreetly.
MTR-1 Multi-Target Radar Multisensor ($39.99 - $59.99)
Powered by the advanced LD2450 radar technology, the MTR-1 tracks up to three people simultaneously with precise X/Y coordinates. Zone-based automation capabilities allow you to trigger different actions based on which area of a room someone enters, perfect for advanced smart home setups. The compact 49 × 32 × 15 mm design includes environmental sensors, RGB LED, and piezo buzzer for comprehensive automation feedback.
R PRO-1 PoE mmWave Multisensor ($69.99)
Our professional-grade presence sensor combines dual mmWave radar modules with true 802.3-compliant Power over Ethernet for reliable, wired connectivity. The LD2450 provides multi-zone tracking while the optional LD2412 addon delivers enhanced static presence detection up to 9 meters. Designed for commercial installations and professional smart home deployments, the R PRO-1 offers rock-solid performance with optional SCD40 CO2 monitoring.
Environmental Monitoring
AIR-1 Air Quality Sensor ($109.99 - $199.99)
The AIR-1 delivers professional-grade air quality monitoring using the Sensirion SEN55 sensor with a 10-year lifespan. Monitor PM1.0, PM2.5, PM4, PM10 particulate matter, VOC index, NOx index, temperature, and humidity in real-time. Optional SCD-40 CO2 sensor and MiCS-4514 gas sensor provide comprehensive indoor air quality awareness for woodworking shops, bedrooms, and any space where air quality matters. The compact 61mm x 61mm x 30mm design includes RGB LED notifications and Bluetooth tracking.
TEMP-1 Temperature Sensor ($24.99 - $25.99)
Our versatile temperature monitoring solution supports multiple probe options for diverse applications. The 1.5m waterproof DS18B20 probe handles refrigerators, fish tanks, and HVAC monitoring from -55°C to 85°C, while the 1m stainless steel NTC food-safe probe reaches up to 350°C for oven and grill temperature tracking. Available in USB-C powered or battery-powered configurations with up to 6 months battery life, the TEMP-1 includes RGB LED and piezo buzzer for automation alerts.
Specialized Sensors
PLT-1 Ultimate Plant Sensor ($27.99 - $29.99)
The PLT-1 combines capacitive soil moisture sensing with comprehensive environmental monitoring for data-driven plant care. The conformal-coated moisture sensor delivers accurate, long-lasting readings without the corrosion issues of resistive sensors. Integrated AHT20-F temperature and humidity sensor plus LTR390 LUX and UV sensor help optimize growing conditions. Optional DS18B20 soil temperature probe enables precise root-zone monitoring. Available in USB-C powered or 18650 battery-powered configurations with 6-12 months battery life.
PUMP-1 Fluid Pump ($32.99)
Our food-safe fluid pump automates watering and fluid management tasks with intelligent overflow protection. Pumping at up to 900 ml/min with 14+ feet vertical lift, the PUMP-1 pairs perfectly with the PLT-1 for complete automated irrigation systems. Dual ultrasonic fluid sensors automatically stop pumping when the source runs empty or the target fills, preventing spills and pump damage. Ideal for plant watering, fish tank refills, pet bowl automation, and robot vacuum mop tank fills.
Display and Control Interfaces
M-1 LED Matrix ($64.99)
Transform your smart home with dynamic visual displays using our 64x64 HUB75 LED matrix featuring 4096 vibrant pixels. Pre-flashed with open source WLED-MM firmware, the M-1 integrates seamlessly with Home Assistant for real-time data visualization, notifications, ambient lighting, and custom pixel art displays. The compact controller hides behind the panel for clean installations, and horizontal expansion supports up to four panels chained together. Perfect for digital signage, information displays, scoreboards, and smart home status dashboards.
BTN-1 Macro Deck ($34.99 - $39.99) - NOW SHIPPING!
Our newest addition is a modular macro control interface featuring four hot-swappable Cherry MX compatible mechanical switches with LED status indicators. Works With Home Assistant certified and officially released at CES 2026, the BTN-1 connects via WiFi or Zigbee (firmware available for community testing) for flexible smart home integration. The ESP32-C6-MINI microcontroller supports Thread and Matter protocols, making it future-proof for evolving smart home standards. Home Assistant blueprints enable easy button programming for scene triggers, media controls, stream deck functions, and custom automation workflows.
Development Boards
DEV-1 ESP32-C3 Development Board ($13.99)
Perfect for prototyping custom sensors and Home Assistant integration projects, the DEV-1 features the ESP32-C3-MINI-1 with WiFi and Bluetooth connectivity. Pre-soldered headers, built-in RGB LED on GPIO 3, and accessible GPIO and I2C interfaces make it ideal for learning ESPHome development and creating DIY smart home devices.
DEV-2 ESP32-C6 Development Board ($14.99)
Our next-generation development board features the ESP32-C6-MINI-1 with comprehensive wireless support including WiFi, Bluetooth, Thread, and Zigbee connectivity. Matter protocol compatibility makes it perfect for future-proof automation projects and advanced IoT development requiring multiple wireless protocols.
Professional Breakout Boards
SEN55 and SCD40 Breakout Board ($79.99 - $114.99)
Professional-grade breakout board featuring the Sensirion SEN55 environmental sensor with optional SCD40 CO2 sensor for rapid prototyping and custom air quality monitoring projects. Two STEMMA QT connectors enable plug-and-play connectivity with DEV-1 and DEV-2 boards.
SCD40 Breakout Board ($34.99)
Compact breakout board featuring the high-accuracy Sensirion SCD40 NDIR CO2 sensor with built-in temperature and humidity compensation. Perfect for adding precise CO2 monitoring to any project with automatic self-calibration and standard header holes for easy integration.
Built on Open Source: ESPHome and Home Assistant
Every Apollo Automation sensor runs ESPHome firmware, giving you complete control and customization capabilities. ESPHome's user-friendly YAML configuration makes it easy to adjust sensor thresholds, add automations, customize LED behaviors, and integrate with virtually any smart home platform. All our firmware, CAD files, and documentation are available on GitHub, encouraging community contributions and custom modifications.
Our Works With Home Assistant certification and Made For ESPHome designation reflect our deep integration with these platforms. We work closely with both communities to ensure our sensors meet the highest standards for local control, privacy, and ease of use.
Made in America: Kentucky Manufacturing Excellence
Apollo Automation designs, engineers, and manufactures every sensor in-house at our Versailles, Kentucky facility. This complete vertical integration gives us unmatched quality control, rapid iteration capabilities, and the ability to respond quickly to customer feedback. When you buy an Apollo sensor, you're supporting American manufacturing and high-tech jobs in Central Appalachia.
Our mission extends beyond building great sensors. We're creating meaningful technology careers in Kentucky and keeping University of Kentucky graduates in-state by offering exciting opportunities in hardware engineering, software development, and operations. Every sensor we ship represents our commitment to combating brain drain and building a thriving tech ecosystem in Central Kentucky.
Community-Driven Development: Your Voice Matters
At Apollo Automation, community input directly shapes our product roadmap. Our monthly livestreams provide behind-the-scenes looks at research and development, upcoming features, and opportunities for Q&A with our engineering team. Our active Discord server connects you with other users, beta testers, and Apollo team members for real-time support and collaboration.
The Feedback Squad program gives passionate users early access to new products in exchange for detailed feedback that helps us refine designs before general release. This collaborative approach ensures we build sensors that solve real problems and integrate seamlessly into your smart home setups.
Growth Plans: Expanding Capacity and Distribution
2026 brings significant expansion for Apollo Automation. We're growing our team to meet increasing demand while maintaining the quality and customer service our community expects. Our workshop expansion will increase manufacturing capacity, allowing us to serve more customers while keeping production local in Kentucky.
We're also developing strategic partnerships with distributors in Europe, Canada, and Australia to make Apollo sensors accessible worldwide. These partnerships maintain our commitment to fair pricing and community support while expanding the reach of privacy-first, locally-controlled smart home technology.
Bulk discount pricing makes Apollo sensors attractive for professional integrators and distributors. Orders of 10+ primary products receive 10% off with free shipping, while orders of 100+ primary products receive 15% off with free shipping. We don't restrict how distributors price our products, giving partners flexibility to serve their markets effectively.
Privacy First, Always
Everything we build prioritizes your privacy. Apollo sensors operate entirely locally via ESPHome with no cloud dependency or subscriptions. Your data stays in your home, under your control. We don't collect analytics, track usage patterns, or phone home with sensor data. When you choose Apollo Automation, you choose complete privacy and ownership of your smart home.
This commitment to privacy isn't just marketing; it's fundamental to our design philosophy. Every feature decision considers privacy implications first. If a capability would compromise local control or require cloud services, we don't implement it.
Join the Apollo Community
Whether you're a Home Assistant enthusiast, an ESPHome developer, a professional integrator, or someone just starting their smart home journey, Apollo Automation welcomes you. Our comprehensive documentation, active community support, and commitment to open source principles make it easy to integrate our sensors into any smart home setup.
Connect with us:
- Website: https://apolloautomation.com
- Discord: dsc.gg/apolloautomation
- GitHub: github.com/ApolloAutomation
- Wiki: wiki.apolloautomation.com
- YouTube: @ApolloAutomation
Looking Forward
2026 represents an exciting chapter for Apollo Automation. Our partnership with the Open Home Foundation, continued product innovation, team growth, and expanding distribution all point toward a future where privacy-respecting smart home technology becomes the standard, not the exception.
We're building this future together with you—the users, developers, contributors, and enthusiasts who share our vision for what smart home technology should be. Thank you for supporting Apollo Automation, championing open source principles, and helping us create high-tech jobs in Kentucky.
Every sensor we design, every line of code we write, and every decision we make starts with one question: "What would serve our community best?" That community-driven approach has brought us this far, and it will guide us through 2026 and beyond.
Here's to building the open home, together.
About Apollo Automation
Apollo Automation manufactures high-performance, privacy-first smart home sensors designed for seamless integration with Home Assistant and ESPHome. Founded in 2023 and based in Versailles, Kentucky, Apollo Automation is committed to open source principles, American manufacturing, and community-driven development. As the second commercial partner of the Open Home Foundation and the first company to bring ESPHome devices into the Works With Home Assistant certification program, Apollo Automation leads the way in privacy-respecting, locally-controlled smart home technology.
For distributor inquiries: sales@apolloautomation.com For support: support@apolloautomation.com
Works With Home Assistant certified | Made For ESPHome | Open Home Foundation Commercial Partner
