---
title: "TinyML based room occupation watcher"
url: "https://maker.wiznet.io/sophia/projects/tinyml-based-room-occupation-watcher-1/"
markdown_url: "https://maker.wiznet.io/sophia/projects/tinyml-based-room-occupation-watcher-1/md"
type: "UCC: User Created Content"
author: "Hendra Kusumah"
author_url: "https://www.hackster.io/hendra/tinyml-based-room-occupation-watcher-fc5aaf"
editor: "WIZnet"
editor_url: "https://maker.wiznet.io/"
original_author: "Hendra Kusumah"
original_url: "https://www.hackster.io/hendra/tinyml-based-room-occupation-watcher-fc5aaf"
published: "2025-10-24"
language: "en"
hardware: ["WIZnet W55RP20-EVB-Pico"]
likes: 0
views: 605
comments: 0
source: "WIZnet Makers (https://maker.wiznet.io/)"
---

# TinyML based room occupation watcher

> A watcher device to monitor the room occupation

Original author: Hendra Kusumah (source: https://www.hackster.io/hendra/tinyml-based-room-occupation-watcher-fc5aaf)

## Components

- **WIZnet W55RP20-EVB-Pico** x 1 ([docs](https://wiznet.io/products/powered-by-raspberry-pi/w55rp20-evb-pico))
- Software: **MicroPython** ([docs](http://micropython.org/))
- Software: **thonny.org Thonny** ([docs](https://github.com/thonny/thonny/wiki))

## Documents and links

- [A room occupation system based on sensecap watcher and the W55RP20 EVB Pico board](https://github.com/chalei/ionic-room-occupation) (code)
- [Connection](https://maker.wiznet.io/_lib/download.asp?path=project/3997&downfile=watcher%5Fuart%5FBfkW2DHj7b%2Epng) (schematics)

## Article

## **Smarter Spaces Powered by W55RP20**

As smart offices and connected buildings become the new standard, **real-time room occupancy monitoring** is emerging as an essential IoT application.
This project demonstrates how the **WIZnet W55RP20**, an **Ethernet-enabled RP2040 microcontroller**, can work seamlessly with a **TinyML sensor** to build a **room occupation watcher** — a simple, powerful, and scalable solution for detecting human presence over a stable wired connection.

The W55RP20 acts as the **IoT gateway**, connecting the **SenseCAP Watcher** (a TinyML-based motion sensor) to a local web dashboard via **Ethernet**.
The result: instant, reliable detection of whether a meeting room, classroom, or workspace is occupied — all without Wi-Fi, cloud dependency, or latency.

> 🧠 **TinyML intelligence + Ethernet reliability = Smart, stable IoT with W55RP20**

## **Why Use WIZnet W55RP20 for IoT?**

When designing connected systems, many developers face three key challenges:

1. **Unstable Wi-Fi connectivity** in corporate or industrial environments

2. **Complex cloud dependencies** increasing latency and cost

3. **Security concerns** when transmitting sensor data wirelessly

The **W55RP20** solves all three.
It integrates **high-performance Ethernet (WIZnet chip)** with **Raspberry Pi RP2040 dual-core MCU**, enabling developers to:

- Build **low-latency, always-connected** IoT systems

- Host **local web servers** for real-time data visualization

- Run lightweight frameworks like **MicroPython + Microdot** for rapid prototyping

In this project, those strengths are used to create a **TinyML room occupancy watcher** that demonstrates the W55RP20’s reliability, simplicity, and versatility.

**System Architecture**

| Component | Function |
| --- | --- |
| **SenseCAP Watcher** | Detects human presence using onboard TinyML model |
| **WIZnet W55RP20-EVB-Pico** | Processes UART data from the sensor and serves a local web interface |
| **Ethernet Connection** | Provides stable, wired connectivity for continuous operation |
| **MicroPython + Microdot** | Runs an embedded web server that displays real-time occupancy status |

The setup is simple:

- SenseCAP TX → W55RP20 GP0 (UART RX)

- SenseCAP RX → W55RP20 GP1 (UART TX)

- Ethernet cable connects the board to the LAN

- Users access the status via the board’s local IP (e.g., `192.168.x.x`)

## **How It Works**

1. The **TinyML sensor** continuously monitors human presence.

2. When someone enters the room, it sends a UART signal to the **W55RP20**.

3. The W55RP20, running **MicroPython**, updates the web interface to “Occupied.”

4. If no presence is detected, the page automatically changes to “Vacant.”

Everything runs locally — fast, private, and reliable.
No cloud delays, no dropped Wi-Fi, no external dependencies.

## **Applications**

- 🏢 **Smart Office Management:** monitor meeting room usage in real time

- 🏫 **Educational Spaces:** track classroom occupancy for efficient scheduling

- 🧠 **TinyML Demonstrations:** showcase edge AI with wired network performance

- 🌱 **Energy Saving Systems:** trigger HVAC or lighting only when people are present

- 🏠 **Smart Home Automation:** integrate with Ethernet-based home networks

## **Why This Matters for Smart-Building Developers**

Developers building **reliable and commercial-grade IoT systems** need solutions that are:

- **Always connected** (no Wi-Fi dropouts)

- **Secure by design** (no open wireless broadcast)

- **Easy to deploy and maintain**

The **WIZnet W55RP20** delivers on all fronts.
With **native Ethernet**, **low-power RP2040 cores**, and **open software support (CircuitPython, MicroPython, C SDK)**, it empowers engineers and makers to design **industrial-ready IoT systems** — from smart sensors to energy dashboards and factory controllers.

> 💡 Whether you’re building a home automation system, a factory sensor network, or a smart office dashboard, the W55RP20 ensures that your IoT connection is as stable as your ideas.

**Benefits Summary**

| Feature | Impact |
| --- | --- |
| **Ethernet Connectivity** | Reliable data transfer with low latency |
| **RP2040 MCU** | Dual-core processing for efficient multitasking |
| **MicroPython Compatibility** | Fast development for IoT prototypes |
| **TinyML Integration** | Edge AI capability for real-time decision making |
| **Local Web Hosting** | Real-time visualization without cloud costs |

The **TinyML Room Occupation Watcher** project perfectly demonstrates how **WIZnet’s W55RP20** bridges the gap between **AI sensing and industrial IoT reliability**.
By combining **edge intelligence** with **wired Ethernet networking**, it delivers a dependable foundation for smart spaces — from offices and labs to homes and factories.

> 🚀 Build your next IoT innovation with **WIZnet W55RP20** —
> where **Ethernet meets intelligence**.

[Embedded media](https://www.youtube.com/embed/3R8EuCsrbsA?rel=0)

---

Source: https://maker.wiznet.io/sophia/projects/tinyml-based-room-occupation-watcher-1/