Biometrics-at-a-distance

Sensors capable of remotely detecting and measuring human vital signs and other physiological activity at a stand-off range greater than 10 meters within a building or behind an obstruction (i.e. non-line-of-sight) in a cluttered environment is of significant interest to the DOD, law enforcement, search and rescue, and the intelligence communities.The capability to remotely monitor vital signs also has applications in the medical field.The focus of this research is to continue development of a system capable of remote vital sign and physiological signature extraction.In Phase I, the feasibility of using radar to remotely detect and measure postural sway, breathing, and heartbeat through a cinder block wall at greater than 10 meters stand-off in a cluttered environment was demonstrated.Phase II will continue the development of algorithms to locate up to 10 people in range and cross-range at greater than 10 meters stand-off, through obstructions, in a cluttered environment, and extract their individual physiological signature including postural sway, breathing rate, and heartbeat rate.An advanced ultra-high dynamic range MIMO radar based on VAWDs existing STORM III radar will be used for algorithm development and testing, leading up to a demonstration of the technology in a realistic environment.