An infusion device for making beverages using cartridges, such as capsules or pods, containing at least one food substance, comprising: an infusion unit comprising at least two parts, at least one of which is able to move between a home position in which it is distanced from the other part, and an operating position in which it is coupled to the other part and with it forms a housing for the cartridge, a first standby zone for a cartridge being formed when the mobile part is in the home position; a motor which is operatively connected at least to the mobile part for moving it between the operating position and the home position; means for preparing the beverage which are operatively associated with the housing, for injecting water into a cartridge contained in it and for collecting the beverage prepared; at least one insertion section for inserting the cartridge in the device, from which the cartridge can then be fed to the first standby zone; and at least one check and control unit for device operation which is operatively connected to the motor for controlling the movement of the mobile part between the home position and the operating position, and to the preparation means for activating and deactivating water injection; wherein it also comprises at least one detection sensor (49, 50) which is coupled to the insertion section for detecting respectively either something approaching the insertion section from the outside of the unit or the insertion of something in the insertion section, the detection sensor (49, 50) being operatively connected to the check and control unit for indicating to the latter the presence of something approaching or, respectively, inserted, characterised in that the check and control unit is programmed: - when at least the mobile part is in the operating position, to bring at least the mobile part into the home position when it receives from the detection sensor (49, 50) a signal indicating the presence of something approaching or, respectively, inserted; and/or - when at least the mobile part is in the home position, to bring at least the mobile part into the operating position after having received from the detection sensor (49, 50) a signal indicating the presence of something approaching or, respectively, inserted; wherein the detection sensor (49, 50) is a sensor which is sensitive to changes in lighting, such as a photodiode, a phototransistor or a photoresistor, a sensor which is sensitive to movement, such as an infrared ray sensor, or a rotary unit which intercepts the movement path of a cartridge from the insertion section towards the first standby zone. an infusion unit comprising at least two parts, at least one of which is able to move between a home position in which it is distanced from the other part, and an operating position in which it is coupled to the other part and with it forms a housing for the cartridge, a first standby zone for a cartridge being formed when the mobile part is in the home position; a motor which is operatively connected at least to the mobile part for moving it between the operating position and the home position; means for preparing the beverage which are operatively associated with the housing, for injecting water into a cartridge contained in it and for collecting the beverage prepared; at least one insertion section for inserting the cartridge in the device, from which the cartridge can then be fed to the first standby zone; and at least one check and control unit for device operation which is operatively connected to the motor for controlling the movement of the mobile part between the home position and the operating position, and to the preparation means for activating and deactivating water injection; - when at least the mobile part is in the operating position, to bring at least the mobile part into the home position when it receives from the detection sensor (49, 50) a signal indicating the presence of something approaching or, respectively, inserted; and/or - when at least the mobile part is in the home position, to bring at least the mobile part into the operating position after having received from the detection sensor (49, 50) a signal indicating the presence of something approaching or, respectively, inserted;