Imaging Technique Reconstructs the Shapes of Hidden Objects

An imaging technique developed by Massachusetts Institute of Technology researchers produces accurate 3D reconstructions of objects hidden from view using millimeter wave (mmWave) signals. With the mmNorm system, the reflections of mmWave signals off hidden objects are fed into an algorithm that estimates the object's surface shape. Measurements are taken by a radar attached to a robotic arm as it moves around a hidden object, with mmNorm estimating the surface’s curvature by comparing the signal strength at various locations.