MIT develops smartphone tech to see objects behind walls

Researchers at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) have developed a new algorithm that can use LiDAR sensors to detect objects behind walls. The technology, published in Nature, expands the capabilities of LiDAR sensors found in modern smartphones. LiDAR normally maps the surrounding environment in 3D by sending out light pulses and measuring the return time from objects in direct line of sight. The new algorithm processes weak and scattered signals reflected from surfaces such as walls and floors, allowing it to reconstruct the shape and motion of hidden objects by combining views from different angles. In laboratory tests, the system produced successful results using low-cost commercial sensors priced at under $100. It was able to track the movement of objects outside the direct field of view in real time and create approximate 3D models of them. The technology is expected to have broad applications in robotics and wearable devices, and could eventually be integrated into consumer electronics.