Inovelli’s Next Matter-over-Thread Switch Adds mmWave Presence Sensing

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Inovelli has started developing the VTM32-SN, a White Series Matter-over-Thread wall switch that is planned to include built-in 24 GHz mmWave presence sensing. The project is in hardware and firmware development, with beta testing and certification scheduled ahead of a targeted March 2027 production run; features and dates may change.

Inovelli has begun developing a new Matter-over-Thread White Series switch with built-in 24 GHz mmWave presence sensing, extending its Project Linus design to its Matter product line. The VTM32-SN remains an early-stage project: the company has started hardware design and firmware development, and says planned features and dates can change.

The proposed switch is intended to work in either dimmer or on/off mode and, like Inovelli’s existing Linus switches, is designed to operate without a neutral wire. The current hardware plan includes a responsive center-rest paddle, configuration and favorite buttons, an addressable RGB LED bar, and 24 GHz radar sensing. Inovelli is also investigating an integrated light-level, or lux, sensor; that feature is not confirmed.

Inovelli’s initial requirements also list power monitoring, smart bulb mode, configurable ramp rates and dimming limits, leading- and trailing-edge dimming, over-the-air updates and multi-way installations. These are development targets rather than a final specification. The company has completed its initial product requirements and research and development analysis, and says hardware and firmware work are now underway.

The published schedule calls for 15 beta samples, with testing planned from November through Dec. 20. Certification, including Matter certification, is scheduled between December and Feb. 1, 2027. Inovelli currently targets production preparation after certification and mass production on March 20, 2027. No price or preorder date has been announced.

Presence Sensing Joins Matter Controls

The proposed model would add a presence-sensing option to Inovelli’s Matter-over-Thread White Series, which has so far centered on conventional load control. Inovelli’s Zigbee Blue Series and Z-Wave Red Series already include Project Linus presence-sensing dimmers, so this project would bring a related approach to the company’s Matter lineup.

MmWave radar can detect small movements that passive infrared sensors may miss, potentially helping a room’s lights stay on when someone is sitting relatively still. That capability depends on how the sensor is tuned and where it is installed. Radar can also register unwanted movement in complex spaces, so real-world testing will matter as much as the feature list. Inovelli’s stated goal is room-occupancy detection, not detailed tracking of people or their positions.

The planned combination could appeal to households looking for a wall switch that controls lighting and senses occupancy without relying on a separate sensor. The switch’s value will depend on final performance, compatibility, pricing and whether planned functions make it into the shipping product. None of those outcomes is established yet.

How It Fits Inovelli’s Lineup

Inovelli positions its White Series as its Matter-over-Thread range, alongside the Zigbee Blue Series and Z-Wave Red Series. The White Series began with a 2-in-1 switch now sold as the Smart Dimmer. The company has since added an on/off switch with humidity sensing, a dedicated fan switch and a fan-and-light canopy module.

The VTM32-SN builds on Project Linus, an existing Inovelli switch design, but adapts it for Matter over Thread. The planned no-neutral-wire operation is a notable engineering target because designing a connected switch that works reliably without a neutral can constrain power use and device behavior. The source report says Inovelli intends the new unit to follow its existing Linus switches, but the final specifications and performance are still under development.

Inovelli has also been developing Matter binding, which lets compatible devices control one another directly rather than depending on a cloud service or a controller for every action. Recent White Series beta firmware added group binding, according to the report, so a switch can target a Matter group instead of requiring separate bindings to each light. It is not confirmed that the new switch will support Matter 1.6.1 or its newer Groupcast architecture.

“The company says the project is still in development and that features and dates may change.”

— Inovelli

Features And Timing Still Subject To Change

No retail price, preorder date or confirmed shipping date has been announced. The March 20, 2027 mass-production target is a development milestone, not a guarantee that the switch will be available to buyers then. The company’s schedule also includes certification and beta testing, either of which could affect timing.

Some listed capabilities remain targets or investigations. Inovelli is still considering a lux sensor, and the report does not establish whether every planned function—including power monitoring, smart bulb mode and multi-way support—will be included in the final device. It is also unclear how the mmWave sensor will perform in different room layouts or how users will configure sensitivity to avoid false occupancy readings.

There is no confirmation that the VTM32-SN will support Matter 1.6.1 Groupcast. The report describes that as a possible future direction for Inovelli’s binding work, not a feature announced for this switch. Final protocol support, device compatibility and certification details remain to be published.

Beta Testing And Certification Milestones

According to the schedule reported by Matter Alpha, Inovelli plans to move from current hardware and firmware development to a 15-unit beta test running from November through Dec. 20. Certification, including Matter certification, is scheduled for December through Feb. 1, 2027, before production preparation and the current March 20 mass-production target.

Inovelli is conducting development publicly and has invited community members to submit feature ideas, follow project updates and volunteer for beta testing. The company says contributors whose suggestions are adopted may receive credit and a free device. Readers should watch for revised requirements, beta findings and certification information; the company has not announced pricing or preorders.

Key Questions

What is Inovelli developing?

Inovelli is developing the VTM32-SN, a White Series Matter-over-Thread wall switch planned to include built-in 24 GHz mmWave presence sensing.

When will the switch be available?

Inovelli’s current schedule targets mass production for March 20, 2027, after beta testing and certification. That is a production target, not a confirmed retail release date, and the company says dates may change.

What features are planned?

The current plan includes dimmer or on/off operation, no-neutral-wire support, mmWave sensing, power monitoring, configurable dimming and ramp settings, smart bulb mode, over-the-air updates and multi-way installations. These remain development targets, not a final specification.

Will it support Matter 1.6.1 Groupcast?

That has not been confirmed. Inovelli has worked on Matter binding and group binding in other White Series development, but support for Matter 1.6.1 Groupcast on this switch is only a possible future direction.

Has Inovelli announced a price?

No. The source report says pricing and a preorder date have not been announced.

Source: rss