Radar keeps safety close to the chest Detection device could prevent cot deaths and sleeping at the wheel

摘要

A radar device that can detect sub-centimetre movements in the chest could help prevent cot deaths and warn drivers who are falling asleep at the wheel. The microchip device sends out ultra-wideband pulsed radar towards the chest and detects respiration patterns in the reflected echo, and as such does not need to be in direct contact with the person being monitored. The prototype can be equipped with logic and algorithms that analyse the output against pre-programmed physiological parameters, allowing it to spot anomalies immediately. Depending on the specific application, it could then sound an alarm to parents of sleeping infants and vehicle drivers, or alternatively feed back wireless-ly to GPs or clinicians.