Use radar tracking baby

A researcher prototype baby monitor prototype - Photo: InventorSpot

University of Florida engineers used radar technology commonly used in military surveillance equipment to "monitor" infants from afar.

According to the designers, the device uses Doppler radar (radar technology used in aerospace and aerospace technology) to monitor the movement of the baby's chest. When the baby stops breathing, the device sends an alarm signal to a handheld device held by his or her parents. Because this device broadcasts with very low wave strength, it is harmless to both the baby and his or her parents.

Doppler radar technology operates by bouncing radio waves away from an object to locate it. Frequency change of the feedback wave is electronically analyzed to provide data on direction, size and speed. The applications of this technology include weather forecasts, intruder detection and tracking of enemy bombers.

According to University of Florida engineers, this is the first time this technology has been used to track baby movements wirelessly. "This is a step further than watching your baby through the video or audio connection system," said Jenshan Lin, a professor of electrical and computer engineering at the University of Florida. the baby cried".

In addition to designing the device, engineers have built a device that is the size of a bedside book, like a conventional watch. A remote station has also been built that uses a variety of lighting to describe the state of the baby's vital signs, the durability of the battery for the station, and the wireless connection.

"This device uses the same Doppler technology that police routinely use to capture speed riders, but in this case we do not measure the speed with which the up and down movements of the baby are measured , " Lin said. adds.

This work is part of the University of Florida Integrated Process and Product Design Program. The manufacturers hope the future versions of this device will use high frequency signals to detect abnormalities in the baby's heart rate. Professor Lin is promoting other applications of the technology, including a search-and-rescue robot to detect survivors of buildings destroyed by explosions or earthquakes.