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FCC Lets Radar Company See Through Walls

Posted by samzenpus on from the x-ray-specs dept.

DesertNomad writes "Attorney Mitchell Lazarus over at CommLawBlog gives a good overview of a new radar technology and the challenges of getting regulatory approval, which seemingly can be just as difficult as developing the technology itself."

3 of 179 comments (clear)

  1. Resolution by worip · · Score: 3, Informative
    3.5GHz translates to a ~8cm wavelength (maybe a bit less with the speed of light being slower in air). Resolving features that vary in amplitude of say less than 2cm (breathing and swaying) requires VERY accurate phase detection and time measurement equipment. Which translates to some very fast hardware doing phase correlation etc. From the article:

    Instead, the L-3 CyTerra device sends pulses on 200 different frequencies, one at a time, ranging in sequence from 3101 to 3499 MHz at 2 MHz intervals.

    and

    The system is sensitive enough to detect the chest motions of a person who is unconscious but breathing, or the slight swaying of a person trying to stand perfectly still

    --
    A picture is worth exactly 1024 words.
  2. Re:Must be deployed only with court orders. by srollyson · · Score: 5, Informative

    The Supreme Court ruled that thermal devices require a warrant in Kyllo v. United States. I'm sure this radar system will follow precedent.

  3. Article is misleading on primary use by amstrad · · Score: 3, Informative

    The article is misleading with regard to the primary use of this device. The device was developed for military use in urban combat situations.

    EMMDAR: ElectroMagnetic Motion-Detection And Ranging

    It was developed because infantry were holding up standard handheld mine detectors (AN/PSS-14) that use ground penetrating radar against walls trying to determine threat levels in neighbouring buildings or rooms. Troops would then interpret the audio tones to determine rooms contents.

    This device simply makes that technology smaller and more accessible and includes DSP algorithms to display potential threats (i.e. movement) on a graphical display.

    Other common uses for this device is search and rescue, both military and civilian. Of course the FBI and SWAT is going to want this technology. Any time law enforcement is going to assualt a building, this device is going to prove invaluable in saving lives.

    Nobody is going to pratically use this device for random checking of homes.