New Technology Using Radar Can Identify Materials and Objects in Real Time
October 11, 2016 | University of St AndrewsEstimated reading time: 1 minute
A revolutionary piece of technology, created by researchers at the University of St Andrews, can detect what an object is by placing it on a small radar sensor.
The device, called RadarCat (Radar Categorisation for Input and Interaction), can be trained to recognise different objects and materials, from a drinking glass to a computer keyboard, and can even identify individual body parts.
The system, which employs a radar signal, has a range of potential applications, from helping blind people identify the different contents of two identical bottles, to automatic drinks refills in restaurants, replacing bar codes at checkout, automatic waste-sorting or even foreign language learning.
Designed by computer scientists at the St Andrews Computer Human Interaction (SACHI) research group, the sensor was originally provided by Google ATAP (Advanced Technology and Projects) as part of their Project Soli alpha developer kit program. The radar-based sensor was developed to sense micro and subtle motion of human fingers, but the team at St Andrews discovered it could be used for much more.
Professor Aaron Quigley, Chair of Human Computer Interaction at the University, explained, “The Soli miniature radar opens up a wide-range of new forms of touchless interaction. Once Soli is deployed in products, our RadarCat solution can revolutionise how people interact with a computer, using everyday objects that can be found in the office or home, for new applications and novel types of interaction.”
The system could be used in conjunction with a mobile phone, for example it could be trained to open a recipe app when you hold a phone to your stomach, or change its settings when operating with a gloved hand.
A team of undergraduates and postgraduate students at the University’s School of Computer Science was selected to show the project to Google in Mountain View in the United States earlier this year. A snippet of the video was also shown on stage during the Google’s annual conference (I/O).
Professor Quigley continued, “Our future work will explore object and wearable interaction, new features and fewer sample points to explore the limits of object discrimination.
“Beyond human computer interaction, we can also envisage a wide range of potential applications ranging from navigation and world knowledge to industrial or laboratory process control”.
Suggested Items
Warm Windows and Streamlined Skin Patches – IDTechEx Explores Flexible and Printed Electronics
04/26/2024 | IDTechExFlexible and printed electronics can be integrated into cars and homes to create modern aesthetics that are beneficial and easy to use. From luminous car controls to food labels that communicate the quality of food, the uses of this technology are endless and can upgrade many areas of everyday life.
Scientists Propose a New Way to Search for Dark Matter
04/02/2024 | SLAC National Accelerator LaboratoryEver since its discovery, dark matter has remained invisible to scientists, despite the launch of multiple ultra-sensitive particle detector experiments around the world over several decades.
Walmart Acquires Vizio, Set to Overtake Samsung as the Largest TV Brand in the US
02/22/2024 | TrendForceUS retail giant Walmart announced on February 20, that it has acquired smart TV brand Vizio for US$2.3 billion, aiming to accelerate the growth of its advertising business: Walmart Connect. Since its launch in 2021, Walmart Connect has seen double-digit annual growth in both its online and offline retail media advertising ventures. Vizio has been expanding its device ecosystem and its SmartCast TV OS, boasting over 18 million active users, according to TrendForce.
Fiber Optic Cables Effective Way to Detect Tsunamis
02/16/2024 | University of MichiganFiber optic cables that line ocean floors could provide a less expensive, more comprehensive alternative to the current buoys that act as early warning systems for tsunamis, says a University of Michigan researcher.
EIPC Winter Conference 2024, Day 2: A Closer Look at Global Trends
02/14/2024 | Pete Starkey, I-Connect007The opening session of the second day’s conference proceedings focused on global PCB trends and was introduced and moderated by Dr. Michele Stampanoni, vice president of strategic sales and business development at Cicor Group in Switzerland. He opened the session with Dr. Hayao Nakahara’s knowledgeable and enlightening video presentation on the IC substrates industry.