# Building an ESP32 Weather Display with mmWave Presence Sensing Automate your desktop weather station using radar sensors for efficient, touch-free display management. - **Source:** [How-To Geek](https://www.howtogeek.com) - **Published:** 2026-10-17 - **Topic:** [Software & Engineering](https://brifing.si/c/engineering) - **Original article:** - **On Brifing:** https://brifing.si/s/bfcb6aac-76dc-4ee6-9ebd-bd8669b9c1ad ## ESP32 Desktop Weather Project The project utilizes an ESP32-WROOM-32E chip to create a functional desktop weather station. By integrating a 4-inch LCD touchscreen, the device displays hourly forecasts, local conditions, and time. This setup eliminates the need to manually check a smartphone, providing immediate environmental data at a glance while sitting at your workstation. ## Optimizing Power with mmWave Maintaining a screen 24/7 is inefficient, yet manual toggling defeats the purpose of automation. The solution involves an mmWave presence sensor, which detects human presence even when the user is stationary. This ensures the display remains active only when needed, significantly reducing power consumption compared to keeping the backlight permanently illuminated. ## Hardware and Assembly Details The build centers on the Freenove FNK0103S board, which integrates the ESP32 and touchscreen. To fit the radar module within the enclosure, the creator de-soldered the preinstalled pin header and replaced it with a 90-degree alternative. The total estimated cost for the hardware components is approximately 50 dollars, depending on existing inventory. ## Superiority Over Motion Sensors Standard motion sensors fail to detect stationary users, causing screens to turn off during desk work. In contrast, mmWave technology identifies presence through micro-movements, ensuring the display remains active while you are seated. Once the sensor detects no presence for a set duration, it automatically powers down the LCD backlight to save energy. ## Software and API Integration The device retrieves real-time weather data from the Open-Meteo API via Wi-Fi connectivity. Users configure settings like location, language, and temperature format directly through the touchscreen interface. This software layer ensures that the device functions as a standalone unit without requiring constant interaction with secondary control panels or external desktop applications. ## Firmware and Development Framework The project firmware is written in Rust using the ESP-IDF framework, distinguishing it from common ESPHome configurations. The developer has provided the source code, full assembly instructions, and 3D-printable enclosure files on GitHub. This open-source approach allows others to replicate the build or modify the code to suit specific personal requirements. ## Customization and Alternative Paths Builders are not restricted to this specific hardware configuration. Alternative setups could utilize a Cheap Yellow Display to pull data from a Home Assistant server via ESPHome. By decoupling the sensor and the display, users can leverage existing smart home infrastructure to achieve similar presence-based automation without building from scratch. ## Impact of Sensor Integration This project demonstrates how adding a low-cost radar sensor transforms a static display into an intelligent interface. By focusing on presence-based activation, the design achieves a balance between utility and efficiency. It serves as a practical blueprint for developers looking to enhance smart home devices with minimal user interaction requirements. ## Sources covering this story - https://www.howtogeek.com/radar-sensor-turns-esp32-into-weather-display-that-wakes-when-you-walk-up/ — --- _Summary written by Brifing from the original reporting. Copyright in the original article belongs to its publisher; read the full piece at the link above._