Ohio State University is developing a radar employing noise-like signals.
“Like traditional radar, the noise radar detects objects by bouncing a radio signal off them and detecting the rebound,” said the University. “The difference is that the noise radar generates a signal that resembles random noise, and a computer calculates very small differences in the return signal.”
The radar is inherently able to distinguish between many types of targets because of its ultra-wide-band characteristics, claimed researcher Eric Walton, who proposes to use it for finding people.
“Unfortunately, there are thousands of everyday objects that look like humans on radar - even chairs and filing cabinets,” he said. “What tends to give a human away is that he moves. He breathes, his heart beats, his body makes unintended motions,” said Walton.
The hardware is not expensive, said the University describing a system with a range of a few metres, “the components cost less than $100”.