Sensors

Ava reads device sensor data and exposes it to Home Assistant, including environment sensors, battery, proximity, and diagnostic information.

Compatible with Android 5-16.

Why Ava's Sensors Are Different

Most Android apps that expose sensor data to Home Assistant rely on third-party integrations like REST API bridges, Tasker plugins, or MQTT gateways. Ava is different:

Native ESPHome integration — sensors appear as native entities in Home Assistant, no extra integration needed
Zero configuration — enable in Settings, entities auto-appear in HA
Runs as a foreground service — sensor updates continue even when the screen is off, unlike task-based apps that Android kills in the background
Combined sensor pipeline — light, magnetic, and proximity sensors share a single update cycle with noise smoothing, reducing drift and battery drain
Proximity + light fusion — proximity wake threshold adapts to ambient light, preventing false wakes in dark rooms
Battery whitelist — Ava automatically requests battery optimization exemption when root or Shizuku is available, ensuring sensor updates are never throttled

Sensor Categories

Category	Description
Environment Sensors	Light, magnetic field
Battery Monitor	Battery level, voltage, charging status
Proximity Sensor	Object proximity detection with screen wake
Screen Gestures	Drawn shape / digit / spatial gesture recognition
Diagnostic Sensors	WiFi, IP, storage, memory, uptime, microphone volume

Environment Sensors

Go to Settings -> Device Controls -> Environment Sensors

Sensor	Description	Unit	HA Entity
Light Sensor	Ambient light intensity	lux	`sensor.your_device_name_light_sensor`
Magnetic Sensor	Magnetic field strength (3-axis combined)	μT	`sensor.your_device_name_magnetic_sensor`

Settings

Setting	Description	Default
Environment Sensors	Enable reading available sensors	Off
Light Sensor	Publish light level to HA	On (if sensor exists)
Magnetic Sensor	Publish magnetic field to HA	Off
Update Interval	How often to publish sensor data to HA (5-60s)	35s

Light Sensor

Measures ambient light intensity in lux. Ava reads the sensor and publishes to Home Assistant at the configured interval with noise smoothing to filter out spikes.

Built-in feature — Light sensor screen off:

When enabled in Screensaver settings, Ava turns off the screen in dark environments (e.g., face-down on a table or in a pocket) and turns it back on when light returns. This saves battery and prevents accidental touches without requiring a proximity sensor.

Scenario — Auto-adjust room lighting:

automation:
  - alias: "Auto Light Adjustment"
    trigger:
      - platform: numeric_state
        entity_id: sensor.ava_light_sensor
        below: 50
    action:
      - service: light.turn_on
        target:
          entity_id: light.living_room

Scenario — Curtains close when too bright:

automation:
  - alias: "Close Curtains in Bright Sunlight"
    trigger:
      - platform: numeric_state
        entity_id: sensor.ava_light_sensor
        above: 3000
    action:
      - service: cover.close_cover
        target:
          entity_id: cover.living_room

Magnetic Sensor

Measures ambient magnetic field strength. Ava combines all three axes into a single magnitude value and publishes at the configured interval with noise smoothing.

Scenario — Key detection:

Place the device near a door or key rack. When someone brings metal keys close, the magnetic field spikes. Use this to trigger automations:

automation:
  - alias: "Someone Picked Up Keys"
    trigger:
      - platform: numeric_state
        entity_id: sensor.ava_magnetic_sensor
        above: 80
    action:
      - service: notify.mobile_app
        data:
          message: "Keys detected — someone is leaving"

Scenario — Door/window open detection:

If a small magnet is attached to a door or window frame, the magnetic sensor can detect when the door opens (magnet moves away) or closes (magnet returns):

automation:
  - alias: "Door Opened"
    trigger:
      - platform: numeric_state
        entity_id: sensor.ava_magnetic_sensor
        below: 25
    action:
      - service: notify.mobile_app
        data:
          message: "Front door opened"

Scenario — Remote control with built-in magnet:

Some TV remote controls or stylus pens have built-in magnets. Moving such an object near the device causes a detectable shift in the magnetic field. This can be used as a "magnetic switch" — wave the remote near the device to trigger a scene:

automation:
  - alias: "Magnetic Trigger - Movie Scene"
    trigger:
      - platform: numeric_state
        entity_id: sensor.ava_magnetic_sensor
        above: 60
    action:
      - service: scene.turn_on
        target:
          entity_id: scene.movie_night

Note: Earth's background magnetic field is typically 25-65 μT. Significant deviations from this baseline indicate a nearby magnetic or metal object. The baseline varies by location, so calibrate by observing the sensor value in the target environment before setting thresholds.

Battery Monitor

Go to Settings -> Device Controls -> Diagnostic Sensors

Sensor	Description	HA Entity
Battery Level	Battery percentage	`sensor.your_device_name_battery_level`
Battery Voltage	Battery voltage	`sensor.your_device_name_battery_voltage`
Charging Status	Charging or discharging	`sensor.your_device_name_charging_status`

Scenario — Low battery alert:

automation:
  - alias: "Ava Device Low Battery"
    trigger:
      - platform: numeric_state
        entity_id: sensor.ava_battery_level
        below: 20
    action:
      - service: notify.mobile_app
        data:
          message: "Ava device battery is low ({{ states('sensor.ava_battery_level') }}%)"

Scenario — Auto-dim screen when not charging:

automation:
  - alias: "Dim Screen on Battery"
    trigger:
      - platform: state
        entity_id: sensor.ava_charging_status
        to: "discharging"
    action:
      - service: number.set_value
        target:
          entity_id: number.ava_screen_brightness
        data:
          value: 30

Proximity Sensor

Go to Settings -> Device Controls -> Proximity Sensor

Sensor	Description	HA Entity
Proximity	Object proximity detected (near/far)	`binary_sensor.your_device_name_proximity`
Proximity Distance	Distance value	`sensor.your_device_name_proximity_distance`

Settings

Setting	Description	Default
Proximity Sensor	Enable proximity sensor	Off
Send to Home Assistant	Expose proximity distance as HA sensor	Off
Proximity Wake	Wake screen when object is near	On
Trigger Threshold	Wake screen when closer than this (auto-adjusted)	Sensor max range
Away Delay	Seconds before marking as away (10-120s)	30
Send Interval	How often to send proximity distance to HA (5-120s)	20
Auto Unlock	Also dismiss keyguard on wake	Off

How Proximity Wake Works

Ava's proximity wake is smarter than a simple threshold:

Light-aware threshold — In low light (< 20 lux), the "far" threshold lowers from 130 to 120. This prevents false wakes in dark rooms where the proximity sensor may behave differently.
Debounced wake — After waking, a 3-second cooldown prevents repeated wake triggers from the same hand wave.
Away delay — When the object moves away, Ava waits the configured delay (default 30s) before marking as "away". This prevents flicker when someone is moving around near the device.
Immediate refresh — On startup, Ava aggressively polls the proximity sensor (up to 12 attempts at 500ms intervals) to get an initial reading quickly, rather than waiting for the first sensor event.

Scenario — Wake screen when someone approaches:

automation:
  - alias: "Proximity Wake"
    trigger:
      - platform: state
        entity_id: binary_sensor.ava_proximity
        to: "on"
    action:
      - service: switch.turn_off
        target:
          entity_id: switch.ava_screensaver

Scenario — Turn on display for kiosk:

automation:
  - alias: "Kiosk Wake on Approach"
    trigger:
      - platform: state
        entity_id: binary_sensor.ava_proximity
        to: "on"
    action:
      - service: switch.turn_on
        target:
          entity_id: switch.ava_display

Screen Gestures

Go to Settings -> Device Controls -> Gesture Detection

Ava recognizes gestures drawn on the screen and reports them to Home Assistant as a diagnostic sensor. After a gesture is recognized, the sensor holds the gesture name for 2 seconds, then returns to idle.

Sensor	Description	HA Entity
Screen Gesture	Last recognized gesture	`sensor.your_device_name_screen_gesture`

Three Gesture Categories

Category	Gestures	Description
Fingers and Corners	Five-finger tap, pinch in/out, four corner taps, four corner swipes, four edge swipes	Spatial gestures — straight swipes are not treated as drawn shapes
Digits	0–9	Drawn digits. Digit 1 is a straight stroke; if up/down swipe is on, that swipe wins
Geometry	Triangle, rectangle, check mark, X, heart, wave	Drawn shapes — curved strokes are not treated as swipes

How Recognition Works

Ava uses shape-matching algorithms adapted for touch input. Spatial gestures (swipes, pinches, corner taps) are recognized by direction and finger count. Drawn digits and shapes use a cloud-point matching approach that is rotation-invariant for shapes and ordered for digits — so a triangle drawn from any corner still matches, and a "3" drawn top-to-bottom or bottom-to-top still matches.

Each enabled gesture category can be toggled independently. A 2-second cooldown prevents rapid repeated triggers.

Settings

Setting	Description	Default
Gesture Detection	Enable screen gesture sensor	Off
Fingers and Corners	Spatial gestures (swipe, pinch, corner)	On
Digits	Drawn digits 0–9	On
Geometry	Drawn shapes (triangle, rectangle, check, X, heart, wave)	On
Choose gestures	Select which specific gestures to report	All

Automation Examples

Scenario — Draw a triangle to toggle scene:

automation:
  - alias: "Triangle Gesture - Movie Scene"
    trigger:
      - platform: state
        entity_id: sensor.ava_screen_gesture
        to: "triangle"
    action:
      - service: scene.turn_on
        target:
          entity_id: scene.movie_night

Scenario — Draw a digit for room selection:

automation:
  - alias: "Digit Gesture - Room Select"
    trigger:
      - platform: state
        entity_id: sensor.ava_screen_gesture
        to: "digit_1"
    action:
      - service: light.turn_on
        target:
          entity_id: light.living_room

Scenario — Five-finger tap to dismiss screensaver:

automation:
  - alias: "Five Finger Dismiss Screensaver"
    trigger:
      - platform: state
        entity_id: sensor.ava_screen_gesture
        to: "five_finger"
    action:
      - service: switch.turn_off
        target:
          entity_id: switch.ava_screensaver

Tip: Gestures work on top of the HA dashboard — draw on the screen without switching away. Straight swipes are treated as spatial gestures, not drawn shapes, so you can still scroll the dashboard normally.

Diagnostic Sensors

Go to Settings -> Device Controls -> Diagnostic Sensors

Sensor	Description	HA Entity
WiFi Signal	WiFi signal strength	`sensor.your_device_name_wifi_signal`
Device IP	Network address	`sensor.your_device_name_device_ip`
Network Type	Current network type (wifi / cellular / ethernet / bluetooth / vpn / none)	`sensor.your_device_name_network_type`
Storage	Remaining storage capacity	`sensor.your_device_name_storage_free`
Memory	Used memory	`sensor.your_device_name_memory_usage`
Uptime	Device running time	`sensor.your_device_name_device_uptime`
Battery Level	Battery percentage	`sensor.your_device_name_battery_level`
Battery Voltage	Battery voltage	`sensor.your_device_name_battery_voltage`
Charging Status	Charging or discharging	`sensor.your_device_name_charging_status`
Music Active	Whether music is currently playing	`binary_sensor.your_device_name_music_active`
Bluetooth State	Whether Bluetooth is enabled	`binary_sensor.your_device_name_bluetooth_state`
Last Used App	Package name of the most recently foregrounded app (requires Usage Access)	`sensor.your_device_name_last_used_app`
Microphone Volume	Microphone volume level (0-2.0)	`number.your_device_name_microphone_volume`

System Control Entities

Entity	Description
`button.your_device_name_kill_app`	Force close Ava app
`button.your_device_name_reboot_device`	Reboot the entire device (requires root)

Scenario — Reboot on high memory:

automation:
  - alias: "Reboot on Memory Pressure"
    trigger:
      - platform: numeric_state
        entity_id: sensor.ava_memory_usage
        above: 90
        for:
          minutes: 10
    action:
      - service: button.press
        target:
          entity_id: button.ava_reboot_device

Scenario — Alert on storage low:

automation:
  - alias: "Storage Low Alert"
    trigger:
      - platform: numeric_state
        entity_id: sensor.ava_storage_free
        below: 500
    action:
      - service: notify.mobile_app
        data:
          message: "Ava device storage is low ({{ states('sensor.ava_storage_free') }} MB)"

Intent Launcher

Go to Settings -> Device Controls -> Android Intent Executor

Remote intent execution via Home Assistant. See Intent Launcher for detailed guide.

Device Capability Detection

Ava automatically detects if the device has each sensor at startup. The detection is cached — it runs once and the result is reused for the session.

Detection	Method	Description
hasLightSensor	System sensor query	Has light sensor
hasMagneticSensor	System sensor query	Has magnetic sensor
hasProximitySensor	System sensor query	Has proximity sensor
hasAnySensor	Any of the above	Has any environment sensor

If a device lacks a sensor, the corresponding entity will not be created in Home Assistant. No error, no empty entity — Ava simply skips it.

FAQ

Sensor data not updating?

Check if the device has that sensor (see Device Capability Detection above)
Check if Ava service is running
Check the update interval setting (Settings → Device Controls → Environment Sensors)
Some device ROMs restrict sensor access for background apps — try disabling battery optimization for Ava

Light sensor screen off not working?

Confirm the device has a light sensor
Check if "Turn off in dark" is enabled in Screensaver settings
Make sure the sensor is not blocked (e.g., device in a case)

Proximity sensor wake not working?

Confirm the device has a proximity sensor
Check if Proximity Wake is enabled in Settings → Device Controls → Proximity Sensor
Check the proximity sensor's maximum range — some devices report very short range
The trigger threshold auto-adjusts based on ambient light — try in a well-lit room first

Magnetic sensor readings seem wrong?

Move away from large metal objects, speakers, or monitors — these affect the magnetic field
Calibrate the baseline by observing the sensor value in the target environment
Some devices have very sensitive magnetometers that drift — noise smoothing helps but cannot eliminate all noise

Battery sensor not showing?

Enable Battery Level in Settings → Device Controls → Diagnostic Sensors
Check if the device reports battery info (some kiosk devices lack battery hardware)

Uh oh!

Sensors

Sensors

Why Ava's Sensors Are Different

Sensor Categories

Environment Sensors

Settings

Light Sensor

Magnetic Sensor

Battery Monitor

Proximity Sensor

Settings

How Proximity Wake Works

Screen Gestures

Three Gesture Categories

How Recognition Works

Settings

Automation Examples

Diagnostic Sensors

System Control Entities

Intent Launcher

Device Capability Detection

FAQ

Sensor data not updating?

Light sensor screen off not working?

Proximity sensor wake not working?

Magnetic sensor readings seem wrong?

Battery sensor not showing?

Reboot device not working?

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