Butlr Sensors Lab: Research, Testing, and Validation

Evaluation protocols — what we test and why

A consistent evaluation protocol ensures meaningful comparisons across devices and algorithm versions. Our protocols address both sensor hardware and analytics performance.

Typical test steps:

• Define use case and success criteria (e.g., occupancy detection, headcount estimation, flow rates)
• Configure the test environment (chamber conditions, mockup layout, source placement)
• Run baseline measurements for sensor noise and bias
• Introduce controlled occupancy scenarios with annotated ground truth
• Measure detection accuracy, false positive and false negative rates, latency, and sampling stability
• Conduct environmental stress tests (temperature cycles, humidity, EMI)
• Run interoperability tests with common building systems (BMS, network gateways)

Performance metrics we report:

• Detection accuracy and confidence intervals
• Temporal resolution and latency
• Coverage maps and recommended sensor densities
• Power consumption and expected maintenance intervals
• Calibration drift rates and recommended recalibration schedules

Virtual Lab: simulation and interactive demos

The Virtual Lab complements physical testing by enabling rapid scenario exploration and educational demos without hardware. It models heat-based anonymous sensing in configurable floorplans and occupancy patterns.

Virtual Lab features:

• Scenario builder: create rooms, corridors, and furniture layouts
• Occupancy patterns: single occupant, meetings, staggered arrivals, peak events
• Algorithm toggles: show raw thermal maps, processed occupancy counts, and confidence overlays
• Exportable datasets for offline model training and benchmarking

The Virtual Lab is useful for trainers and educators, integrators validating design choices, and stakeholders who need a quick proof-of-concept before on-site evaluation.

Product integration & installation testing

Lab testing covers both wired and wireless sensor variants and focuses on installation realities. We validate typical installation constraints and advise on best practices to reduce on-site surprises and accelerate deployment timelines.

Installation tests include:

• Mounting height and angle sensitivity
• Coverage testing to determine sensor density for reliable analytics
• Network performance under realistic building Wi-Fi and interference conditions
• Edge-processing versus cloud-processing tradeoffs
• Compatibility with BMS, analytics platforms, and third-party dashboards

Calibration, maintenance, and long-term validation

Reliable occupancy analytics depend on proper calibration and maintenance. The lab develops practical calibration procedures and monitors sensor drift over extended periods to support predictable lifecycle costs and clear service agreements for enterprise deployments.

Calibration and maintenance activities:

• Factory calibration verification for each device family
• Field calibration steps that facilities teams can perform without specialized tools
• Scheduled health checks and automated alert thresholds
• Long-term stability trials to quantify expected performance degradation

Case studies and real-world validation highlights

We use controlled experiments and mock deployments to produce actionable findings for customers. Each case study includes test conditions, measured metrics, and practical recommendations for staging and scaling deployments.

• Meeting room analytics: validated sensor placement that reduces false counts from adjacent rooms
• Open office density mapping: verified algorithms that maintain anonymized occupancy counts while differentiating stationary furniture heat signatures
• Peak-event throughput: simulation and physical tests that inform sensor density for lobbies and atria

Privacy-first design and validation

Butlr sensors use anonymous heat-based sensing rather than cameras to protect occupant privacy. In the lab we validate privacy properties alongside performance metrics to help organizations meet regulatory and internal privacy requirements while gaining occupancy insights.

Privacy validation covers:

• Data modality checks to confirm no visual imaging is captured
• Algorithm-level anonymization guarantees and audit logs
• Minimization of stored personal data and retention policies
• Third-party validation of privacy claims when requested by enterprise customers

How to engage with the Sensors Lab

Butlr supports a range of collaboration models to fit different needs and budgets. Typical engagement options include deliverables such as test reports, annotated datasets where appropriate, and installation guidance.

• Request an evaluation kit for on-site piloting with lab-backed installation guidelines
• Schedule a lab demo to see controlled tests and virtual simulations
• Commission a custom validation report for specific building scenarios or procurement requirements
• Participate in joint research projects or academic partnerships

Next steps

• Request an evaluation kit and accompanying lab report
• Schedule a lab demo to see performance under controlled conditions
• Try the Virtual Lab to test scenarios before hardware commitments
• Contact Butlr to discuss a custom validation or pilot program

Frequently asked questions

What is a sensors lab and why does Butlr use one?

A sensors lab is a controlled environment for testing and validating sensor hardware and analytics. Butlr uses a lab to ensure repeatable, auditable results and to accelerate product improvement.

How are sensors evaluated in a controlled chamber?

Tests start with baseline characterization, then run annotated occupancy scenarios under controlled temperature, humidity, and interference conditions to measure accuracy and robustness.

Can I try a virtual demo of Butlr sensors?

The Virtual Lab simulates heat-based anonymous sensing and supports scenario exploration, educator resources, and dataset exports for offline testing.

What calibration and maintenance do Butlr sensors require?

Devices undergo factory calibration, with field-friendly recalibration steps provided for facilities teams. The lab quantifies drift and recommends maintenance intervals.

How do Butlr sensors protect privacy compared with cameras?

Heat-based sensors do not capture visual images. Lab validation confirms the data modality and the anonymization properties of downstream analytics.