Frequency Modulated Continuous Wave Radar-Based Through-Wall Human Detection for Emergency Response
IEEE Embedded Systems Letters, vol.18, no.3, pp.212-215, 2026 (SCI-Expanded, Scopus)
- Publication Type: Article / Article
- Volume: 18 Issue: 3
- Publication Date: 2026
- Doi Number: 10.1109/les.2025.3619147
- Journal Name: IEEE Embedded Systems Letters
- Journal Indexes: Science Citation Index Expanded (SCI-EXPANDED), Scopus, Compendex, INSPEC
- Page Numbers: pp.212-215
- Keywords: Frequency-modulated continuous wave (FMCW) radar, human detection, machine learning, through-wall sensing
- Yıldız Technical University Affiliated: Yes
Abstract
Detecting individuals trapped after earthquakes is critical for guiding rescue operations, yet current search methods still face challenges, especially in large-scale emergencies. This work focuses on leveraging a low-cost, lightweight continuous wave radar (CWR) sensor for through-wall human detection, with the goal of enabling fast, scalable deployment in disaster zones. This solution facilitates deployment across different locations, supporting wide-area coverage, parallel search operations, and rapid rescue in time-critical situations. The proposed system uses machine learning models to accurately detect human presence and classify movement types behind walls, including static, low-energy, and high-energy movements. It achieves 97.1% accuracy in presence detection and 84.5% in static vs. movement classification, offering a practical and scalable solution for post-disaster search and rescue.