Enhanced Vital Sign Monitoring in Multi-Target Environments: A FMCW Radar Approach with Blind Source Separation

This paper presents an innovative approach for detecting human vital signs in multi-target scenarios using Frequency-Modulated Continuous-Wave (FMCW) radar within a Multiple-Input Multiple-Output (MIMO) framework. Recognizing the limitations of traditional contact-based vital signs monitoring methods, especially for sensitive groups such as infants or burn victims, our study proposes a non-invasive, radar-based solution. We develop a Linear Mixed Model (LMM) to address the challenges posed by multi-target, multi-path aliasing interference, employing Blind Source Separation (BSS) model and FastICA algorithms for signal separation and extraction. The algorithm’s effectiveness is validated through simulation experiments, where we successfully distinguish and analyze vital signs, such as heart and respiration rates, from phase-modulated Intermediate Frequency (IF) signals. The IWR6843AOP MIMO radar, operating in the 60-64GHz band, is utilized for data collection. Our results demonstrate the potential of this methodology in accurately identifying vital signs in complex, multi-target environments. Furthermore, the study suggests enhancements to the existing signal processing flow, highlighting areas for future research in real-time vital signs monitoring using FMCW radar.