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from the surge-in-sales-of-earplugs-and-scarves dept.
Researchers at the University of South Australia have developed drones that can remotely measure heart and breathing rates.
Image-processing systems combined with specially created algorithms allow the drones to detect vital signs in several people at once, while they are moving.
The drones could be deployed in nursing homes, on hospital wards and in war zones.
One expert said it could be "game-changing".
The system detects movements in human faces and necks in order to accurately source heart and breathing rates. In trials, the drones took measurements from a distance of three metres but could be advanced to take them from much further away.
"The drone will single out each person automatically and provide a trace for each individual as to where their heart rate and breathing rate is," said project supervisor Prof Javaan Chahl.
Hovering drones will be a welcome addition to emergency rooms and nursing homes.
(Score: 2) by DannyB on Thursday September 28 2017, @07:03PM (3 children)
Life detecting drones might be welcome somewhere else: on the battlefield.
Who would welcome such a development?
Ultimately, it will come down to shareholders interests of major defense contractors.
The lower I set my standards the more accomplishments I have.
(Score: 2, Informative) by Anonymous Coward on Thursday September 28 2017, @07:05PM
Right in the goddamn summary!
(Score: 2) by captain normal on Friday September 29 2017, @05:05AM
Or..they could be deployed to hunt down rebels in the mountains and forests. At least for now they only work ~3 meters. But still if they increase the range could be very scary. There are ways to foil infrared on helicopters and night vision goggles. Drones flying around checking to see if you are good present a whole new set of problems.
Everyone is entitled to his own opinion, but not to his own facts"- --Daniel Patrick Moynihan--
(Score: 1, Insightful) by Anonymous Coward on Friday September 29 2017, @10:01AM
Which will spur inventions of 1) personal means to prevent remote detection of one's life, and 2) decoys which simulate life signs to attract life detecting drones, because it is obvious that next step on a battlefield is a drone which repeatedly fires, or directs fire, to a source of life signs for as long as it can detect the signs.