WiFi DensePose: Seeing Through Walls with WiFi Signals

A new system named WiFi DensePose has been introduced, which uses standard WiFi signals to estimate human poses through walls. Developed by ruvnet, this technology represents a significant advancement in wireless sensing capabilities.

The system works by analyzing how WiFi signals reflect off human bodies, allowing it to map dense human poses even in non-line-of-sight conditions. This development has sparked discussions regarding both its potential applications and the privacy implications of such technology.

The concept of using WiFi for sensing is not new, but WiFi DensePose takes it a step further. Instead of just detecting motion or presence, it aims to estimate the detailed pose of a human body. This includes the position of limbs and torso, effectively creating a 3D model of a person using only WiFi signals.

According to the project details, the system is capable of performing this estimation through walls. This is possible because WiFi signals at 2.4GHz and 5GHz frequencies can penetrate common building materials like drywall and wood, although they are reflected by the human body due to its water content.

The technology behind WiFi DensePose relies on analyzing the Channel State Information (CSI). CSI provides detailed data about how a WiFi signal propagates between a transmitter and a receiver. When a person moves or stands in the path of these signals, their body alters the CSI data.

The system processes these alterations to infer the human's shape and pose. The GitHub repository indicates that this involves complex signal processing and machine learning algorithms trained to correlate specific signal patterns with human body shapes and positions.

• WiFi signals penetrate obstacles like walls.
• Signals reflect off the human body.
• Receivers capture altered signal data (CSI).
• Algorithms process data to estimate pose.

The project was published by an entity known as ruvnet. The source code and documentation are hosted publicly on GitHub, allowing for transparency and further development by the community.

The technology has gained visibility through online tech communities. Specifically, it was shared on news.ycombinator.com, a popular platform for discussing technology and startups. The post received positive engagement, accumulating 10 points and sparking a conversation about the capabilities and ethics of the technology.

The ability to see through walls using WiFi signals carries significant implications. On one hand, it offers potential benefits for smart home automation, elderly care monitoring, and security systems. It could allow devices to understand human presence and activity without requiring cameras or wearable sensors.

However, the privacy implications are profound. The capability to estimate human poses through walls raises concerns about surveillance and the right to privacy in one's own home. As the technology becomes more accessible, discussions around regulation and ethical use will become increasingly important.