MIT prepared a tracking system(WiTrack) that can work through walls


MIT prepared a tracking system(WiTrack) that can work through walls


Research team at MIT’s (Massachusetts Institute of Technology) in CSAIL ( Computer Science and Artificial Intelligence Laboratory) prepared a high-resolution 3D motion tracking system which can work  through walls. From a static location connected to a computer , the system can track you as you walk around the house and even if you hide behind the wall. This system has a superb resolution by which it can understand the gestures of the body ( like if you lift your hand) as well.

This system is known as WiTrack which stands for Wireless Tracking. WiTrack is more cost-effective and the simple combination of hardware and software than Microsoft tracking system called Kinect. Microsoft Kinect tracking system tracks via infrared cameras which can’t track the person or object behind the wall. Such technology is known as computer vision. In order to develop the results from infrared cameras, Kinect processed through complex algorithm whereas in WiTrack process is pretty simple because cameras aren't used in it.

MIT prepared a tracking system(WiTrack) that can work through walls


WiTrack tracks you or an object with the help of radio waves. These radio waves are so low-power. According to research team, these waves are 100 times weaker than WiFi waves and 1000 times weaker than mobile waves. WiTrack consists of four antennae — one that transmits radio waves, and three receivers. According to Fadel Adib, one of the researchers working on WiTrack, the transmitted radio waves are “structured in a particular way to measure the time from when the signal was transmitted until the reflections come back.” Because the three receivers are spaced apart, it’s possible to triangulate the delay of these reflected signals, to build up a 3D map. Developers say, this system works accurately in the range of 10-20cm (4-8inch).

Research team of MIT has also developed some tracking systems to track through the walls, but in which one system consisted on a very large antenna while second worked with WiFi. Both systems were enormous in size as well as poor in performance.


WiTrack tech can be popular in future due to its cheap cost and good performance, but there is not any likelihood of its usage in future. Kinect is more efficient than WiTrack as it can track up to millimeter. Moreover, WiTrack can only track one person or object in one time. Developers say they can increase its efficiency to track more than one things. In the last I would like to  say if this system isn't as per our requirements then at least we can utilize this tech for some other usages such as when person reaches at home light turn on automatically.

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