Through the Wall Sensor

"This innovative approach uses a non-conventional imaging radar system, an Impulse SAR (ImpSAR). When placed in a moving platform, such as a truck or airborne platform, at 100 meters or more from a wall, it can detect and localize (1) people and materiel onthe "other" side of the wall and (2) underground structures, including caves, tunnels and bunkers. The ImpSAR operates in a transient mode where extremely short (picoseconds) pulses yield ultra wide bandwidth (many Gigahertz), having frequencies capableof penetration through the wall and the ground. Moreover, ultra-wide bandwidth implies extremely high (few centimeters) resolution that is necessary for localization and identification of targets on the other side of the wall. Limited experiments using astationary brassboard impulse radar system, concrete "test wall" with multiple rebar layers and canonical targets will be carried out. The proposed ImpSAR system has great potential for miniaturization and adaptability to variety of host moving platforms.Commercial applications include law enforcement, fire and rescue and military. Potential benefits include localization of suspects inside the building by law enforcement officers, localization of people trapped inside the building by fire and rescueoperations."