Imagine if rescuers could see through debris to spot survivors under the rubble, measure their vital signs, and even generate images of the victims. This capability is rapidly becoming possible using see-through-wall radar technology. Early versions of the technology that indicate whether a person is present in a room have been in use for several years, and some applications can measure vital signs—although under better conditions than through rubble.
Professor of Electrical Engineering Aly Fathy researches electromagnetic communication and imaging systems using fast computers, new algorithms, and radar transceivers that collect large amounts of data to enable something much closer to the X-ray vision of science fiction and comic books. This emerging technology will make it possible to determine how many occupants are present behind a wall or barrier, where they are, what items they might be carrying and, in policing or military uses, even what type of body armor they might be wearing. Read the full article on The Conversation.
UT is a member of The Conversation, an independent source for news articles and informed analysis written by the academic community and edited by journalists for the general public. Through our partnership, we seek to provide a better understanding of the important work of our faculty.
