This is rapidly becoming possible using see-through-wall radar technology.

Im anelectrical engineerwho researches electromagnetic communication and imaging systems.

It’s free, every week, in your inbox.

‘X-ray vision’ tech could soon see through rubble and help save disaster victims

These see-through-wall radars will also be able to track individuals movements, andheart and respiration rates.

How radar works

Radar stands for radio detection and ranging.

Using radio waves, a radar sends a signal that travels at the speed of light.

Article image

This echo can then be used to estimate the location of the object.

In Dopplers original case, this was the light from a binary star system.

The Doppler effect can be used to detect tiny motions, including heartbeats andchest movement associated with breathing.

A diagram showing a square on the left, a vertical rectangle in the middle and a sphere on the right. A series of four diminishing sine waves pass from the square to the wall, the wall to the sphere, the sphere back to the wall and from the wall to the sq

This allows the technology to accurately measure these vital signs.

How radar can go through walls

Like cellphones, radars use electromagnetic waves.

But the rest travels through the wall, especially at relatively low radio frequencies.

On the left, a laboratory set up showing a cinderblock wall and a foil-covered cardboard silhouette of a person, and, on the right, a radar image showing a corresponding silhouette in a three-dimensional space

By using sophisticated algorithms, they can display the data in near real-time.

The wavelength of electromagnetic signals corresponds to the size of the antenna.

Scientists have been pushing see-through-wall radar technology to higher frequencies so you can build smaller and more portable systems.

The Conversation

One indication of see-through-wall radars potential is the U.S. Armys interest.

Theyrelooking for technologythat can create three-dimensional maps of buildings and their occupants in almost real-time.

Also tagged with