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MIT researchers can now use Wi-Fi signals to map human profiles through walls

By Wong Chung Wee - on 30 Oct 2015, 12:20pm

MIT researchers can now use Wi-Fi signals to map human profiles through walls

(Image source: MIT)

MIT researchers can now use Wi-Fi signals to map human profiles through walls. We first reported on their research in 2013 where they used Wi-Vi technology to detect movement behind walls and obstructions. Now, the scientists at MIT’s Computer Science & Artificial Intelligence Laboratory have improved the technology, and renamed it “RF-Capture”. According to the research team, RF-Capture can now track a person’s hand as he writes in the air. It can even capture different human profiles behind walls and uniquely identify them.

(Image source: MIT)

The RF-Capture technology transmits low-power wireless signals and captures the reflected signals to “reconstruct” a human profile. RF-Capture has two main algorithms; the first sieves through collected data to determine the RF signals that had been reflected from different body parts like the head, body and limbs, and generate 3D “snapshots”. The second algo will parse data from the first, and “stitch” the snapshots into a human figure. The RF-Capture Wi-Fi antenna array is limited to only 20 antennae and generates radio waves of frequencies that measure roughly between 5- to 7GHz. The researchers claim that the power of the radio waves is lower than those of a typical cellular phone. This technology can be applied to a search and rescue operation in order to quickly determine survivors trapped under rubble and debris. However, in a more sinister application, it may be used for urban warfare operations. The team from MIT will present their paper at SIGGRAPH Asia 2015; for the science geeks, you can check out a version of their academic submission here.

(Source: MIT, The Verge)

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