Your step-by-step guide to setting up your Butlr System.
IN THIS ARTICLE
Set up with Studio
Set up without Studio
Provide materials to Butlr support team
Set up your Dashboard
Set up with Studio
Download Studio
- Go to www.butlr.io/downloads to download our Studio desktop app.
- Available for MacOS and Windows.
Create a Virtual Space
1. Log in to Studio
- Use the credentials provided to you. If you have received any credentials, please contact support@butlr.io.
2. Click "Create Space"
Note: Starter kits may already come with a space created for you. If there is already a space in the account, please skip ahead to step 4.
3. Name your space and click "Create"
- Click on a space name to enter and edit a space.
- The space name can also be edited later, after clicking into the space.
4. Upload floor plan
- A floor plan provides a good reference of room sizes and locations, makes it easier for you to create and plan the location of your devices in the space.
5. Create virtual rooms to approximately resemble the physical floor plan
- Click "Add Room" and a room will appear on the canvas.
- Rename the room in the room information panel and it will appear on the top room border.
- Select a Room Tag from the dropdown list.
- Adjust room size by entering X and Y values.
- Add all rooms that will be monitored by Heatic sensors.
Tip: Do not add rooms without Heatic sensors. Rooms without sensors will appear as blank pages on the Butlr Dashboard.
- Arrange rooms to approximately resemble the physical floor plan.
Tip: "Snap Alignment" can be disabled or enabled from the Settings menu at upper right.
Tip: With a room selected, click the "Delete Room" button at lower right to remove from space.
6. Add fixtures such as equipment and furniture to your virtual space
- This gives Butlr key contextual information in order to accurately differentiate people from heat-emitting objects, learn about changes in the spatial environment and track human activity related to a particular fixture.
7. Save the space
Plan sensor layout
Mark the locations of sensors on your space before your hardware arrives or go live using Placeholders in the Studio app.
1. Add Placeholder sensors
- Go to "Add Sensors" and select "Add Placeholder."
- Put placeholder in the location where you plan to place a sensor on the space.
- Set the expected sensor installation height and mount.
- Save changes.
- Repeat for others sensors.
2. Drag and drop live sensors (when ready)
- Once live sensors are added to the space, drag a live sensor onto a placeholder.
- The live sensor will automatically snap to the placeholder's position and adopt its settings.
- Save changes.
- Repeat for each sensor.
- Go to "Show/Hide" on the left toolbar menu and hide Placeholders to easily edit live sensors without them snapping back to the placeholder.
What happens when sensors overlap?
Our system automatically detects overlapping sensors and stitches them together to prevent duplicate counts.
How can I get the maximum coverage out of my sensors?
See our Datasheet for guidelines on effective coverage.
Set up the Hive
Hives and sensors come preconfigured for a true plug-and-play experience.
1. Install the Hive
- Screw the antenna onto the Hive.
- Place the Hive in a location where it will be within 30 feet (10 meters) from at least one of sensors.
- Plug the Hive into a power outlet.
2. Connect the Hive to the internet
The Hive can be connected to the internet via wi-fi, ethernet cable or LTE USB modem.
a. Wi-fi
- Tap anywhere on the upper half of the screen to access "Network Settings."
- Tap on the "Connect to New Network" button, then wait a few moments for the network scan to complete.
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Select the desired wi-fi network from the list.
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Enter password (8 characters minimum), or leave blank if unsecured. Press "Connect."
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The Hive will return to the Network Settings page when connected.
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Confirm that the status is "Connected to Internet."
b. Ethernet
- Plug an Ethernet cable into the ethernet port next to the Hive's antenna.
- Allow 30 seconds for the Hive network status to update.
- Confirm that the status is "Connected to Internet".

c. LTE USB Modem
- Plug the LTE USB Modem into the USB port. If the Hive was previously connected to wi-fi, disconnect from wi-fi before plugging in the USB Modem.
- Allow up to 3 minutes for the Hive network status to update.
- Confirm that the status is "Connected to Internet."
3. Add the Hives to Studio
- Click "Add Hive"
- Either manually enter the Hive serial number or scan the QR code found on the back sticker of the Hive.
- If your space contains multiple Hives, add all Hives into the space following the same process.
Set up Sensors
1. Open the space in Studio
- Measure the ceiling height and update sensor height information in Butlr Studio accordingly.
- Make sure no physical objects will block the sensor's field of view.
- Move and re-plan sensor placeholder locations accordingly as needed.
2. Turn on sensors
- Turn on all sensors by toggling the power switch on the front of the sensor.
- Once sensors are switched on, they will automatically attempt to connect to the Hive.
- The sensor LED will blink blue when powered on and search for a connection.
- Upon successful connection to the Hive, the sensor LED will turn green for 3 seconds and turn off. This sensor LED will remain off once connection is complete.
- This process may take a few minutes. If the sensor LED does not light up, check if the battery is installed correctly.
3. Add sensors to space
- Once sensors are online and connected to the Hive, go to "Add Sensors" on the left toolbar and select "Add Live Sensors."
How do I know when sensors are online or offline?
- When a sensor is online, it will display a square, representing its coverage area, made up of yellow-orange thermal pixels.
- When a sensor is offline, the entire square will turn black.
- In the sensor information panel, set its mount as either "Ceiling" or "Wall". This will automatically update the sensor coverage shape displayed. See our Mounting Guide for details on different mount types.
- Enter the sensor installation height to match the ceiling height of the room. This will automatically update the sensor coverage area. The maximum installation height for Heatic sensor is 10.4 feet or 3.2 meters (see our Datasheet for more details). If your ceiling height is above this limit, consider using our wall mounts or drop rods.
4. Position sensors onto your space
Sensors on Studio must match their real-world physical position in relation to the room they are in to make sure you that you receive occupancy and traffic data that is not only accurate but also spatially and contextually informative.
a. For spaces with Placeholder sensors
- Once live sensors are added to the space, drag a live sensor onto a placeholder.
- The live sensor will automatically snap to the placeholder's position and adopt its settings.
- Save changes.
- Repeat for each sensor.
- Go to "Show/Hide" on the left toolbar menu and hide Placeholders to easily edit live sensors without them snapping back to the placeholder.
a. For spaces without Placeholder sensors
- Click on a sensor to open its information panel.
- Go to "Distance to Room Border" and enter the actual physical distance of the sensor in relation to walls of the room.
- Rotate the sensor on Studio to match the actual physical sensor orientation in relation to the room. To check orientation, compare the sensor arrow on Studio and either the face of the sensor or the arrows on its backplate.
- Take a quick walk under the sensor to confirm that the sensor in Studio reflects your position and movement correctly in relation to the physical sensor. See our Evaluation Guide for comprehensive testing tips and methodology.
- Save changes.
- Repeat for all sensors.
What happens when sensors overlap?
Our system automatically detects overlapping sensors and stitches them together to prevent duplicate counts.
How can I get the maximum coverage out of my sensors?
See our Datasheet for guidelines on effective coverage.
Set up without Butlr Studio
The Butlr Team can assist you with the Space Planning so you can directly start using the Butlr People Sensing Platform via the Dashboard.
1. Reach out to support@butlr.io, and provide the following materials:
- Floor plan of the site
- Details of room usage/estimated occupancy/furniture
- Include kit number in the header (can be found on the sticker inside the box (ex. eval_XX)
2. Our team will update your space and email you back once the process has been completed.
Set up your Dashboard
The Dashboard provides a basic summary of the historical and live data for your spaces, rooms, and areas of interest created on the Studio app.
- Go to app.butlr.io. Login with the credentials provided to you.
- Set your dashboard's settings so that data is displayed correctly.
- Click Show Space Details on the upper right corner to open a sidebar and set the following:
- ❗ Space Name (editable here and in Studio)
- ❗ Time Zone
- ❗ Capacity Limit
Maximum capacity of the space. When occupancy reaches this number, the occupancy number will turn red. - ❗ Space Capacity Warning
This warns you when your space is nearing maximum capacity. When occupancy reaches this number, the occupancy number will turn orange. - Unit of measurement (optional, editable here and in Studio)
- Address (optional)
- Scroll down to the Room Occupancy table and click on the following fields:
- ❗ Room Name* (editable here and in Studio)
- ❗ Room Capacity Limit* (“Mid”)
- ❗ Room Capacity Warning* (“Max”)
- Click Show Space Details on the upper right corner to open a sidebar and set the following:
❗ Required
* Also editable in individual room pages by clicking Show Room Details.