Ultra-wideband Radar Detection of Breathing Rate: A Comparative Evaluation

This work explores the use of a commodity ultra-wideband (UWB) radar based device to detect breathing rate for health monitoring applications. Health monitoring devices observe physiological signals to detect medical conditions. We focus on capturing the small mechanical movements caused by breathing. This is traditionally done via a strain gauge worn around the chest or stomach, but these systems limit user movement. Contactless systems provide a unique design that allows free user movement by eliminating all direct contact with the user. Additionally, these systems have the potential to support full health monitoring in a Smart Built Environment (SBE). In this work, a comparative evaluation is performed on a commodity UWB radar based device, the Walabot, to determine the accuracy and possible health monitoring applications. Based on results from a systematic review, six research challenges were identified: (1) high cost, functional limitations based on the user's (2) location, (3) orientation, and (4) movement, (5) dependency on system hardware placement, and (6) vulnerabilities in signal processing methods. A comparative evaluation was designed to test the Walabot against a medical grade wearable system in the context of these research challenges. The data was processed using two breathing rate derivation techniques: Fast Fourier Transformation (FFT) and Peak Detection. Results suggest great potential for the Walabot coupled with the FFT technique. However, the system requires further testing to address all of the research challenges. Overall, this work provides important steps toward using the Walabot in health monitoring applications.

Name thesis:degree_name

Master of Science

Level thesis:degree_level

masters

Discipline thesis:degree_discipline

Computer Engineering

Department dc:contributor.department

Electrical and Computer Engineering

Grantor dc:publisher

Virginia Tech

Year dc:date.issued

2020

Author dc:creator

• Buckingham, Nicole A.

Chairs dc:contributor.committeechair

• Martin, Thomas L.
• Gracanin, Denis

Committee member dc:contributor.committeemember

• Butt, Ali R.

• Biosensors
• Breathing Rate
• Human Computer Interaction
• Prognostics and Health Management
• Remote Sensing

Statement dc:rights

• In Copyright

Licence dc:rights.uri

• http://rightsstatements.org/vocab/InC/1.0/

Dc Identifier Other

vt_gsexam:25933

OAI identifier oai:identifier

oai:vtechworks.lib.vt.edu:10919/98597