| Engineers Develop Radar Sensor the Size of a Seed Capable of Detecting Movements |
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| Engineers have successfully developed a radar sensor the size of a seed that has the ability to detect movements that are less than 1/100th of the width of a human hair. This groundbreaking prototype, created by the team at the University of California in Davis (UC Davis), is not only cheap but also highly energy-efficient. |
| The official statement released by UC Davis describes the design of this sensor as a transformation of what was once considered an “impossible mission” into reality. The advanced design allows the sensor to accurately detect extremely small movements of objects at a microscopic level. |
| This sensor holds immense promise and potential for a wide range of applications, including safety measures, biometric monitoring, and assistance for individuals with visual impairments. |
| This groundbreaking sensor prototype relies on millimeter radar technology. |
| Millimeter waves are electromagnetic frequencies ranging from 30 to 300 gigahertz, situated between microwaves and infrared radiation. These waves are extensively utilized in high-speed communication networks like 5G due to their capability to enable short-term sensor capabilities. |
| The official statement explains that millimeter radars transmit rapidly moving electromagnetic waves to targets to analyze their movement, position, and speed based on the reflected waves. |
| Millimeter waves offer numerous advantages, including their inherent sensitivity to minute movements and their ability to focus on objects of small scale. |
| However, most modern millimeter sensors encounter problems related to energy consumption and eliminating background noise interference. |
| In fact, during the development of this sensor, researchers discovered a significant amount of background noise. |
| When attempting to rectify the issue by amplifying the weak signal from a delicate small sheet, the sensors became overwhelmed, resulting in the loss of the signal. |
| Omid Momeni, in the official statement, expressed their initial doubts about solving the problem, stating that the noise levels were so low that it seemed almost impossible for any signal source to overcome them |
/Reports, release notes, official announcements.