WiFi signals can measure heart rate, no wearables needed
The Pulse-F system enables highly accurate, clinical-level heart rate monitoring using ultra-low-cost WiFi devices, making it useful for low-resource settings.The system works with the person in various positions and from up to 10 feet away, demonstrating its versatility and robustness.Heart rate is a crucial health indicator, providing insights into physical activity, stress, anxiety, hydration levels, and more.Traditional heart rate measurement requires wearables, but the Pulse-F system offers a non-intrusive alternative using household WiFi devices.The technology was developed by engineers at the University of California, Santa Cruz, and demonstrated using low-cost WiFi devices like ESP32 chips ($5-$10) and Raspberry Pi chips ($30).The system combines WiFi devices with a machine learning algorithm to distinguish even the faintest signal variations caused by a human heartbeat.Experiments with 118 participants showed that after only five seconds of signal processing, heart rate could be measured with clinical-level accuracy.The Pulse-F system performed accurately regardless of the equipment's position in the room or the participant's posture, including sitting, standing, lying down, or walking.The researchers created their own dataset to train the machine learning algorithm, as no existing data for these patterns using an ESP32 device was available.Future research aims to extend the technology to detect breathing rate in addition to heart rate, which can be useful for detecting conditions like sleep apnea.
https://news.ucsc.edu/2025/09/pulse-fi-wifi-heart-rate/
