[The following is an exact transcript of this podcast.]

[Radio sound:] “Northeast 480 you are cleared for landing, Northeast 480 you are cleared for landing.”

That same radar technology that guides aircraft and tracks hurricanes could in the future keep track of a baby’s breathing. Engineers from the University of Florida have built a prototype radar baby monitor. The crib-mounted monitor detects movement of the infant’s chest using Doppler radar. If breathing stops, movement stops and the monitor sounds an alarm. Such a system should be superior to those that just send sound or video to the parents. The research will appear in the February issue of IEEE Microwave Magazine. IEEE is the Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers.

The radar monitor that the researchers created is about the size of small book. The receiver indicates the baby’s breathing, as well as the state of the wireless connection with the monitor and the battery status. Future versions could also detect heartbeat through a higher frequency signal.

[Radio sound:] “Mrs. Watson on Maple Drive, your baby is breathing normally, the baby is breathing normally.”

—Steve Mirsky 

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60-Second Science is a daily Podcast. Subscribe to this Podcast: RSS | iTunes