Using Software Defined Radio to Detect Human Life

The goal of this project is to develop a device that uses software-defined radio to detect human biological activity through walls by detecting changes in the received signals depending on if a human is present or not. Such a device will help local survivors locate victims from being stuck under collapsed buildings and debris, as opposed to having to wait for search and rescue teams. By making a relatively low cost and easy to use device, a more practical application of human detection was developed. Results showed that while the device requires user interpretation to determine the presence of a human at a more limited range, evidence shows that it is capable of detecting human respiration rate through walls at a distance of 1.1-1.2 meters while costing less than 400 USD, pointing towards the benefit of further investment into improving the device.