Asahi Kasei Microdevices Begins Mass Production of Camera‑less Modules for Detection of Falls, Vital Signs, Posture, and Position

TOKYO--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Jul 15, 2026--

Asahi Kasei Microdevices (AKM) began mass production of the AK5816AIM, an Antenna-in-Module (AiM) millimeter-wave (mmWave) radar module, in July 2026. Its integrated antenna, compact packaging, and high-resolution performance enable the rapid adoption of camera-less monitoring solutions in private spaces.

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Fueled in part by aging populations and a steady increase in pet ownership, in-home monitoring has become integral for many consumers. This growing demand comes with challenges: camera-based monitoring raises privacy concerns, and wearable sensors often compromise comfort and convenience.

As mmWave radar can detect a person's presence, movement, and even breathing without relying on cameras, it offers a solution for non-contact monitoring. The development of practical mmWave radar systems has traditionally required extensive expertise in radio-frequency (RF) antenna design, which has made commercialization and mass production difficult.

AKM’s new AiM module is built around the AK5816 mmWave radar transceiver IC, whose multi-channel sensing capability and high angular resolution enable highly accurate detection of position, motion, breathing, posture, and other state changes in people and pets. The AK5816AIM integrates the AK5816 and a 4-in/4-out antenna array into a single compact package (23 mm × 23 mm). This solution eliminates the antenna design process, enabling rapid product development, even for teams without RF design expertise.

Designed with residential equipment, IoT monitoring devices, and age-tech solutions in mind, AKM’s new AiM is suited for monitoring applications in environments where many would be reluctant to install cameras, such as bathrooms and bedrooms. The company has already launched services that use the AK5816AIM for non-contact, camera-less monitoring in bathrooms and living spaces in “Hebel Village,” a senior housing offering developed by Asahi Kasei Homes.

Gregg Rouse, President of AKM’s United States business unit, commented, “With the start of mass production of the AK5816AIM, camera-less sensing technologies are entering a new phase, enabling wider deployment in everyday living environments. We hope to expand the adoption of these and other privacy-conscious monitoring solutions by collaborating with partners known for their expertise across key technologies. The response to the AK5816AIM at CES ® 2026 in Las Vegas was very encouraging, and we intend to maintain that momentum.”

AKM is working with software and hardware partners to support camera-less monitoring solutions based on the AK5816AIM. Partners include Aizip, whose collaboration with AKM received a Best of Sensors award at Sensors Converge, as well as Algorized, Sigma0, and Nisshinbo Micro Devices. Together, they bring capabilities across AI detection, radar signal processing, development tools, and mass-producible 60 GHz sensor modules. Through these collaborations, AKM supports customers from application development through mass-production design.

To learn more about the AK5816AIM visit, https://www.akm.com/global/en/products/millimeter-wave-radar/lineup-millimeter-wave-radar/ak5816aim/

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About Asahi Kasei Microdevices (AKM)
AKM, a Japan-based company, operates an electronic components business as a member of the Asahi Kasei Group's Material sector. AKM provides customers with unique products by combining the compound semiconductor technology used in magnetic sensors with the ASIC/analog circuit technology used in silicon semiconductors. AKM's unique products and solutions are featured across a wide range of markets, including mobile communication devices and consumer products, as well as automotive electronics devices, household equipment, and industrial equipment.

About Asahi Kasei
Asahi Kasei is a diversified global company that contributes to life and living for people around the world. Since its foundation in 1922, with businesses in ammonia and cellulose fiber, Asahi Kasei has consistently grown through proactive portfolio transformation to meet the evolving needs of every age. With 50,000 employees worldwide, the company contributes to sustainability by providing solutions to the world’s challenges across its three business sectors: Healthcare, Homes, and Material. For more information, visit https://www.asahi-kasei.com/.

The AK5816AIM mmWave radar module

Millimeter-wave monitoring solution ecosystem

WASHINGTON (AP) — President Trump has submitted to Congress for review an agreement with Saudi Arabia aimed at bolstering the kingdom's civilian nuclear program, but continues to insist that it won't move forward if Saudi Arabia doesn't normalize relations with Israel, according to a Trump administration official.

The classified document was submitted to Capitol Hill on Monday as required by the Atomic Energy Act, according to the administration official, a congressional aide, and two others familiar with the matter. All four spoke on condition of anonymity because they were not authorized to comment publicly on the classified matter.

The agreement was signedlast month in Washington by U.S. Energy Secretary Chris Wright and his Saudi counterpart. But the next day, Trump announced he was requiring the Saudis to normalize relations with Israel through the Abraham Accords as part of the pact — raising doubts that the agreement would come to fruition.

Neither the administration official nor the others familiar with the matter would comment on whether Trump's call for the Saudis to join the accords is detailed in the classified document submitted for the congressional review.

Under law, Congress has 90 days while in session to review the agreement. Unless Congress passes a joint resolution rejecting the agreement during the review period, the agreement can take effect without a vote by either chamber.

It is unusual for the entire contents of such agreements to be classified at such a high level. Previous civil nuclear pacts with other countries — known as 123 agreements — have been made public, although some of them have contained classified annexes that were not released.

The Saudi embassy in Washington did not have any immediate comment on the matter.

But Trump's continued insistence on the Saudis joining the accords could complicate the path to final approval. The accords approved in 2020 expanded the number of Arab and Muslim-majority nations with diplomatic ties with Israel.

The Saudis were taken by surprise by Trump’s announcement that the completion of the civil nuclear deal would hinge on Riyadh’s agreement to join the accords.

Trump faced fierce criticism from some lawmakers, including some who are concerned it could potentially help the Saudis fulfill their long-standing desire to enrich their own uranium and, in the process, spur new rounds of nuclear proliferation and competition.

The Saudis, meanwhile, have made clear that normalizing relations with Israel would first require the establishment of a clear path for Palestinian statehood. And Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has rejected the idea of Palestinian statehood as being untenable for his country’s security.

The deal, if approved, is expected to last 30 years and is also expected to involve U.S. firms in developing the program following a joint U.S.-Saudi study.

The formal submission of the agreement to Congress for review was reported earlier on Tuesday by the Wall Street Journal.

President Donald Trump walks after a back to school event in the Rose Garden of the White House, Monday, Aug. 24, 2026, in Washington. (AP Photo/Alex Brandon)