Study on a Novel UWB Linear Array Human Respiration Model and Detection Method

A novel ultra-wideband (UWB) linear array human respiration model and detection method is proposed to obtain vital sign feature (VSF) including azimuth, range, and respiration frequency. As the azimuth of the human being cannot be estimated by a single receiving channel, the new method generates new B-scans for different scanning angles. When the azimuth angle is determined by the azimuth estimation method, the corresponding new B-scans can be processed to obtain the range and respiration frequency. The new method not only estimates the azimuth angle of the human being, but also detects multiple respiration motions from the new B-scans instead of the traditional B-scans. Meanwhile, the implementation steps of the new method are fully illustrated both in free-space and rubble situation. Four free-space simulations are performed and prove the necessity of the new method using the UWB linear array. The results verify its capability for the azimuth estimation and the multiple VSFs detection. In addition, the scene with one person trapped in rubble is simulated to validate the new method for the rubble case with unknown permittivity. Furthermore, a practical experimental validation is performed in an artificial ruin to show the effectiveness of the proposed method.