Researchers have been working for years to find ways to "see" people by penetrating through walls, without the use of cameras or expensive lidar or laser ranging sensors.
In 2013, a team of researchers at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology found a way to use cell phone signals to see through walls.
In 2018, another team from the same institute used Wi-Fi to detect people in another room and translate their movements into shapes.
Now, researchers at Carnegie Mellon University and Waterloo University are developing the ability to see through walls using Wi-Fi.
How do you see through walls?
Researchers at Carnegie Mellon University have developed a new way to detect 3D shapes and movements of human bodies in a room using only Wi-Fi routers.
The team used the "Denise Pose" system, which maps all the "pixels" on the human body in the image, and the system was developed by London-based researchers and the artificial intelligence team at Facebook, and published the report on their site, and it is basically a way to capture a set of coordinates for each joint of the body. Human;
Such as arm, head, torso, etc., and is defined as the main point that can describe a person's position.
Then they created a deep neural network that plots the phases and amplitudes of Wi-Fi signals sent and received by routers to the coordinates on human bodies.
The technology works by sending a low-power Wi-Fi signal through a wall that resonates throughout the room. It detects all objects in the room, cancels stationary objects, and when the signal bounces, uses the reflection of moving objects to create an image in a way similar to a radar device.
This technology can work across standard drywall, wood fences, and even concrete walls, though range and accuracy depend on wall type.
Most families in developed countries have a Wi-Fi network that can be used to monitor any movement in the house (Al-Jazeera)
Technology and privacy rights
Carnegie Mellon University researchers believe that Wi-Fi signals could be a ubiquitous replacement for regular RGB cameras when it comes to sensing people in a room.
In their paper, they write that the use of Wi-Fi overcomes obstacles such as poor lighting and occlusion that normal camera lenses encounter.
They also believe that this technology offers an improvement in privacy rights because it does not rely on cameras, and the required equipment can be purchased at a reasonable price.
Most families in developed countries already have Wi-Fi at home, and this technology can be used to monitor the movement of the elderly or identify suspicious movements at home.
Wi-Beep uses this technology
A research team from the University of Waterloo was able to detect a vulnerability in a protocol widely used in wireless networks.
Through a tool operated by drones that use "Wi-Fi" networks to penetrate walls and know the locations of devices and people inside buildings.
The device, called Wi-Peep, can fly near buildings and then use the building's residents' Wi-Fi network to quickly identify any Wi-Fi devices, and then know the residents' movements without even logging in. to the building.
What makes Wi-Beep exciting for professionals is its accessibility and portability;
The team built the device using a store-bought drone, plus $20 in readily-bought hardware;
This means that anyone with the appropriate experience can easily create a similar device.
The potential uses of this technology are enormous;
From assisting the authorities in breaking into a building, to supporting firefighters searching for people in a burning building, as well as in search and rescue operations.
However, privacy concerns are also important, and it is necessary to consider the potential consequences if the technology is used for malicious purposes.