LiSTA: Non-invasive Sensing of Liquid States through Smartphone LiDAR

This paper comprehensively examines an innovative method to analyze time-varying physical properties like the viscosity of a liquid leveraging the LiDAR technology integrated into smartphones. Conventional techniques for determining liquid characteristics call for pricey lab apparatus or a significant fluid volume. On the other hand, the proposed smartphone-based approach, called LiSTA, requires only a single liquid drop and is accessible and contactless. We apply the proposed solution for three applications: detecting baby food spoilage, exploring calories consumed while taking a drink, and analyzing milk adulteration by examining its dilution factor. Our preliminary study indicates that smartphone LiDAR can effectively analyze various time-varying properties of a liquid in a pervasive way, showing its potential for different applications.

I. Introduction

The rapid advances in smartphone technology have revolutionized many aspects of our lives, from communication and entertainment to diverse applications in areas such as healthcare, industrial automation, and environmental monitoring. New possibilities in sensing and detection have opened up due to the recent integration of advanced sensors and signal-processing capabilities into smartphones. Among these emerging technologies, Light Detection and Ranging (LiDAR) has gained prominence for its utility in various applications, from augmented and virtual reality [1] to environmental sensing [2].