UWB Monostatic RADAR-Based Heartbeat Monitoring in an Autonomous Vehicle

International Journal of Electrical and Electronics Engineering

© 2026 by SSRG - IJEEE Journal

Volume 13 Issue 3

Year of Publication : 2026

Authors : Udhyami M B, Joseph Rodrigues

10.14445/23488379/IJEEE-V13I3P115

How to Cite?

Udhyami M B, Joseph Rodrigues, "UWB Monostatic RADAR-Based Heartbeat Monitoring in an Autonomous Vehicle," SSRG International Journal of Electrical and Electronics Engineering, vol. 13,  no. 3, pp. 200-209, 2026. Crossref, https://doi.org/10.14445/23488379/IJEEE-V13I3P115

Abstract:

Monitoring a driver’s physiological state in real time is vital for enhancing road safety by detecting fatigue, medical emergencies, and enabling future health-intervention systems in autonomous vehicles. Ultra-Wideband (UWB) impulse radio monostatic Radar emerges as an attractive alternative due to its ability to perform non-invasive and highly sensitive detection of vital signs, including respiration and heart rate, through obstacles such as clothing or car seats. This paper presents a radar setup located in the seat, which propagates a UWB signal through human tissues from the back side of the driver up to the heart location. The transmitted and reflected UWB signal and antenna reflection coefficient S11 parameter are analysed to detect the heart rate for a heartbeat-induced heart model. Various UWB pulse types and their spectral characteristics are analysed to ensure efficient energy transmission within the FCC mask safety constraints. Time-domain analysis of the transmitted and received pulses reveals clear heartbeat analysis with minimal distortion, achieving accurate heart detection rates. Reflected-pulse analysis shows clear differences in amplitude between systole and diastole for normal and abnormal heart-radius conditions, allowing reliable detection of heart states. Time-of-flight and range estimation help in tracking the heart-wall movement accurately. FFT-based analysis of the time-varying S11 parameter estimates the heart rate, confirming precise non-invasive heartbeat detection through the thorax.

Keywords:

UWB Propagation, UWB Monostatic Radar, Non-Invasive Heartbeat Detection, Scattering Parameter, Vehicular Communication.

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