Development and Application of an Ultrasound Camera for Position Tracking of Objects and Individuals

Inhalt:
Non-contact monitoring in healthcare and industrial automation demands solutions that are both accurate and unobtrusive. We develop an active ultrasound camera built around a two-dimensional array of in-house MEMS transmitters and commercial receivers. Reflected sound waves are processed via advanced image-reconstruction and machine-learning algorithms to enable real-time object detection, tracking, and privacy preservation. We explore phased-array and frequencycoding techniques to enhance spatial resolution. Initial experiments with a linear transducer array demonstrate reliable tracking at distances below 0.5 m. Ongoing work targets MEMS transmitter refinement, control electronics, robust data processing, and laboratory validation. Here, we detail the development concept of the active ultrasound camera, present preliminary hardware testing results, and outline the requirements for further advancements. This approach paves the way for compact, privacy-preserving, non-invasive monitoring systems across diverse applications.