Personal radar assistance
Various exemplary embodiments relate to a radar device for detecting objects that intersect an area, the device including a mount attachment; a radar sensor; an output interface; a memory storing one or more environment parameters; a processor in communication with the radar sensor, the output interface, and the memory, the processor being configured to: receive, from the radar sensor, signal information; retrieve, from the memory, environment parameters; calculate, based on the signal information, the distance relative to the sensor of one or more objects; calculate an area based on at least one of the environment parameters; and determine that at least one of the one or more objects intersect the area.
1. An obstacle detection device for detecting objects that intersect an area, the device comprising:
a mount attachment;
a radar sensor;
an output interface;
a memory storing one or more environment parameters;
a processor in communication with the radar sensor, the output interface, and the memory, the processor being configured to:
receive, from the radar sensor, signal information;
retrieve, from the memory, environment parameters;
calculate, based on the signal information, the distance relative to the sensor of one or more objects;
calculate an area based on at least one of the environment parameters; and
determine that at least one of the one or more objects intersect the area.
2. The obstacle detection device of claim 1 , wherein the area comprises a cylinder.
3. The obstacle detection device of claim 1 , wherein the area comprises one or more planes.
4. The obstacle detection device of claim 1 , the processor being further configured to:
determine the closest object of the one or more objects; and
transmit, through the output interface, feedback information about the closest object.
5. The obstacle detection device of claim 1 , further comprising a controller in communication with the memory and the processor, the controller configured to:
retrieve the one or more environment parameters from the memory; and
send to the processor one or more indications of the at least one of the environment parameters.
6. The obstacle detection device of claim 5 , wherein the controller is in communication with the radar sensor, and is further configured to:
receive, from the radar sensor, signal information;
determine, based on the signal information, one or more new environment parameters; and
send to the processor one or more indications of the one or more new environment parameters.
7. The obstacle detection device of claim 1 , wherein the environment parameters comprise one or more of a user height, a user stride length, a device height range relative to user, a device distance from a user, a distance of the area from the device, and a minimum size of object. relative to the sensor of one or more objects, the processor is further configured to process signal information by means of a fast Fourier transform (FFT) process.
8. The obstacle detection device of claim 7 , wherein the processor is further configured to decimate the signal information.
9. The obstacle detection device of claim 7 , wherein the processor is further configured to filter the signal information.
10. The obstacle detection device of claim 1 , wherein the environment parameters comprise area parameters.
11. The obstacle detection device of claim 1 , wherein when calculating the distance relative to the sensor of one or more objects, the processor is further configured to process signal information by means of a fast Fourier transform (FFT) process.
12. The obstacle detection device of claim 1 , further comprising an energy harvester.
13. The obstacle detection device of claim 12 , wherein the energy harvester comprises a kinetic harvester.
14. The obstacle detection device of claim 12 , wherein the energy harvester comprises a photovoltaic harvester.
15. The obstacle detection device of claim 1 , further comprising:
a power source; and
a controller in communication with the memory and the processor, the controller configured to:
receive from the power source an indication of battery level; and
send to the radar sensor one or more indications that sensor parameters should be changed.
16. The obstacle detection device of claim 15 , wherein the one or more indications that sensor parameters should be changed comprise one or more of an indication to reduce a chirp frequency, an indication to reduce a chirp range, an indication to use fewer transmitters, and an indication to use fewer receivers.
17. The obstacle detection device of claim 1 , wherein the output interface comprises an audio output.
18. The obstacle detection device of claim 1 , wherein the output interface comprises a tactile feedback generator.
19. The obstacle detection device of claim 1 , wherein the output interface comprises a wireless adapter.
20. The obstacle detection device of claim 19 , wherein the wireless adapter comprises an IEEE 802.15.1 adapter.