Story Views
Now:
Last Hour:
Last 24 Hours:
Total:

% of readers think this story is Fact. Add your two cents.

The ability to identify and locate hidden persons or hidden objects using advanced imaging techniques is critical to search and rescue operations as well as to maintaining security and safety. An EU-funded research initiative gave a boost to four European small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) involved in commercial development of related technologies, enabling them to compete with the very few organisations in the world that provide such products.

Credit: Thinkstock

The ‘Ultra wideband radio application for localisation of hidden people and detection of unauthorised objects’ (Radiotect) project was conceived to provide support to four European SMEs with knowledge and expertise in ultra wideband technology, thus enhancing Europe’s utilisation of its human capital.

The SMEs were active in the area of maximum length binary sequence technology. However, they required the research and technological development (RTD) support of leading universities to develop the best algorithms for data analysis as well as hardware for speed and accuracy in order to produce competitive through-wall and through-dress imaging products.

Radiotect project outcomes included successful development of high and ultra high resolution radar hardware as well as imaging techniques and algorithms. The SMEs established transnational collaborations and significantly improved their competitiveness. Only a handful of organisations in the world produce ultra wideband imaging products, most of which are based in the United States. The Radiotect project outcomes will most likely add a few European organisations to that small and selective list in the near future.

Contacts and sources:
CORDIS Features
Dr Jürgen Sachs
Technische Universitaet Ilmenau
Result from the EU funded FP6-SME programme