Wi-Vi System Can See Through Walls

Jul-02-13 Researchers have long attempted to build a device capable of seeing people through walls. Now a system being developed by a team at MIT could give all of us the ability to spot people in different rooms using low-cost Wi-Fi technology.

The system, called “Wi-Vi,” is based on a concept similar to radar and sonar imaging. But in contrast to radar and sonar, it transmits a low-power Wi-Fi signal and uses its reflections to track moving humans. It can do so even if the humans are inclosed rooms or hiding behind a wall. As a Wi-Fi signal is transmitted at a wall, a portion of the signal penetrates through it, reflecting off any humans on the other side. However, only a tiny fraction of the signal makes it through to the other room, with the rest being reflected by the wall, or by other objects.

Wi-Vi, being presented at the Sigcomm conference in Hong Kong in August, could be used to help search-and-rescue teams to find survivor strapped in rubble after an earthquake, say, or to allow police officers to identify the number and movement of criminals within a building to avoid walking into an ambush. It could also be used as a personal safety device, or this could open up the possibility of more complex and interesting games.

More Info about this Invention:

[MIT.EDU]
[PCMAG.COM]

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