Israeli Device That Can See Through Solid Objects
May 9, 2018
- Vayyar, an Israel-based company, has developed a device that can “see” through solid objects.
- The device is a powerful sensor that uses radio frequencies to detect movement and differentiate between people and objects.
- The product has been used in the fields of automation, home-monitoring, and breast-cancer detection.
The typical reaction Raviv Melamed gets when he tells people about the product he’s working on is one of shock.
“People are amazed by it,” Melamed told Business Insider. “They think it’s science fiction.”
Melamed’s Israel-based company, Vayyar, is creating a device that he describes as having “Superman vision”: the ability to “see” through human bodies, brick walls, closed doors, and other solid objects.
Vayyar has created a small, sensor-equipped chip that, with its 72 transmitters and 72 receivers, can penetrate through walls, execute complex imaging algorithms, and differentiate between people and solid objects.
While Vayyar’s product might at first seem fantastical, the device has several practical uses when applied to the fields of breast cancer imaging, elderly care, robotics, retail, and more.
The company’s most recent offering is a fine-tuned sensor that’s designed to monitor homes. The device, which Melamed said can distinguish between a person who is walking, sitting, or lying down, is geared towards the field of elderly care.
“Elderly people don’t typically want to wear a device because they don’t want to be symbolized,” Melamed said, referring to the wearable devices currently offered on the medical alert market.
Vayyar’s technology monitors people using radio frequencies, which Melamed said is less intrusive than a video-monitoring home system.
“People want to be free in their own home,” said Melamed. “They don’t want to feel like they’re being watched.”
The image that Vayyar’s technology provides is only a hazy approximation of a person or an object, which Melamed said is a key selling point when it comes to its home-monitoring devices.
“The image isn’t high resolution,” he said. “I’ll be able to see your hand and your head, for instance, but I won’t be able to recognize your face.”
Melamed began working on Vayyar seven years ago out of his Tel Aviv basement after leaving his role developing radars for the Israeli Defense Force.
“When I decided to go into the startup world, I wanted to see if I could use my expertise working with sensors to look into the human body,” he said.
While Vayyar’s sensor was initially designed as an imaging device to detect cancerous growths, the applications for the product’s technology is now being applied in a myriad of fields.
Investors, too, are taking note. Since the company was founded it’s raised $79 million from investors including Bessemer Venture Partners, Battery Ventures, and Amiti Ventures. Melamed said Vayyar has plans to tackle the automative industry next.
“There’s enormous scale for this device,” he said, “Highly sophisticated radar can solve a multiple of problems in many industries.”
Similar posts
-
Israel Has The Most Moral Military In The World
April 10, 2024In the heart of a region often riddled with conflict, Israel stands out not only for its technologi...
-
The Resilience of the Israeli People
April 2, 2024Visitors from around the world have seen Hamas's October 7th Massacre's destruction in southern Isr...
-
Israel: Small Size, Big Impact
March 21, 2024Nestled along the eastern edge of the Mediterranean Sea, Israel is a land of immense historical sig...
-
Israelis Are Fighting For Their Lives
February 21, 2024By Jonathan S. Tobin The world looks a lot different from Kibbutz Kfar Aza than it does in the U...
-
Over 2 Million Arabs Live In Israel
January 23, 2024In the complex landscape of the Middle East, where diverse cultures and identities intersect, Israe...
-
'Fauda' Star Idan Amedi Injured Fighting in Gaza
January 8, 2024Despite the severity of his injuries, Amedi's father assured Israeli news channels that his life is...
-
Israel Is A Great Country To Live In
December 28, 2023Nestled at the crossroads of the Middle East, Israel stands as a vibrant and dynamic nation, offeri...
-
Dear World: I Don't Care
November 2, 2023By Avi Lewis I don’t care that you sympathize with Hamas I know you wouldn’t tolerate any of ...