Experimental approach for seeing through walls using Wi-Fi enabled software defined radio technology

• Main Authors: Isaac Cushman, Danda B. Rawat, Abhishek Bhimraj, Malik Fraser
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Published: KeAi Communications Co., Ltd. 2016-11-01
• Series: Digital Communications and Networks
• Subjects: Wi-Fi based imaging; Throughwall imaging; Software defined radio
• Online Access: http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2352864816300426

Modern handheld target detection methods are typically restricted to line of sight (LOS) techniques. The design of a new method to detect moving targets through non-transparent surfaces could greatly aid the safety of hazardous military and government operations. In this paper, we develop through-wall virtual imaging using Wi-Fi enabled software defined radio to see moving objects and their relative locations. We use LabVIEW and NI Universal Software Radio Peripheral (NI USRP2921 radios with Ettus Research LP0965 directive antennas) devices to detect moving objects behind walls by sending and receiving a signal with respect to the USRP's location. Based on the signal-to-interference ratio of our signal (rather than the traditional signal-to-noise method), we could determine the target object behind the wall. The two major applications for this project are: detecting an active shooter that is standing on the other side of the wall and detecting abnormalities in the human body such as breast cancer with more sensitive antennas. Likewise, firefighters, law enforcement officers, and military men would find more practical purposes for the use of this system in their fields. We evaluate the proposed model using experimental results.