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WiFi signals can measure heart rate

(news.ucsc.edu)
463 points bookofjoe | 6 comments | 04 Sep 25 14:53 UTC | HN request time: 0.001s | source | bottom
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troysk ◴[04 Sep 25 17:29 UTC] No.45129837[source]▶
I do it using MMWave sensor, 60Ghz one. Want to have more of them but installation is a pain as these need to be mounted on ceiling so WiFi based sensor would be awesome!
replies(2): >>45130083 #>>45130421 #
1. cweagans ◴[04 Sep 25 17:50 UTC] No.45130083[source]▶
Do you have a writeup about this somewhere? I'd love to know more.
replies(3): >>45130140 #>>45130211 #>>45150761 #
2. yurishimo ◴[04 Sep 25 17:56 UTC] No.45130140[source]▶
You can buy them on Aliexpress for $5. YouTube and a cursory google search will give you many many options to choose from for examples and tutorials.
replies(2): >>45131898 #>>45150774 #
3. transpute ◴[04 Sep 25 18:00 UTC] No.45130211[source]▶
"Low cost mmWave 60GHz radar sensor for advanced sensing" (2025), 50 comments, https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=44665982

"Inside a $1 radar motion sensor" (2024), 100 comments, https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=40834349

"mmWave radar, you won't see it coming" (2022), 180 comments, https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=30172647

"What Is mmWave Radar?: Everything You Need to Know About FMCW" (2022), 30 comments, https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=35312351

4. NoiseBert69 ◴[04 Sep 25 20:31 UTC] No.45131898[source]▶
There are a lot of radar modules out there in the wild.

But not all of them are good for doing stuff like this.

You need full raw I/Q and DAC access to sweep the frequency.

5. troysk ◴[06 Sep 25 16:38 UTC] No.45150761[source]▶
Unfortunately no. But fortunately, it isn't something new I have built. I use a Seed Studio sensor MR60BHA2 which has an ESP32 which sends the data to Home Assistant through ESPHome. Once it is in Home Assistant you can do automations and notifications. I mostly use it for elderly care. I have another DFRobot C1001 sensor but waiting for ESPHome to add support for it. It has fall detection also which is why I am planning to replace it. They are fairly accurate; ~90%; has been my experience. They work better when mounted on ceiling and have a cone like coverage.
6. troysk ◴[06 Sep 25 16:40 UTC] No.45150774[source]▶
don't get the $5 ones, they are probably just presence detector or at best distance detector and probably work on 24Ghz. Get the 60Ghz for breathing, heart rate, posture etc.