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FCC Approves Google Testing of Radar-Based Motion Sensing

posted by Fnord666 on Wednesday January 02 2019, @11:01AM   Printer-friendly
from the use-your-phone-to-make-popcorn dept.

takyon writes:

Google wins U.S. approval for radar-based hand motion sensor

Alphabet Inc's Google unit won approval from U.S. regulators to deploy a radar-based motion sensing device known as Project Soli. The Federal Communications Commission (FCC) said in an order late on Monday that it would grant Google a waiver to operate the Soli sensors at higher power levels than currently allowed. The FCC said the sensors can also be operated aboard aircraft. The FCC said the decision "will serve the public interest by providing for innovative device control features using touchless hand gesture technology."

[...] The FCC said the Soli sensor captures motion in a three-dimensional space using a radar beam to enable touchless control of functions or features that can benefit users with mobility or speech impairments.

Google says the sensor can allow users to press an invisible button between the thumb and index fingers or a virtual dial that turns by rubbing a thumb against the index finger. The company says that "even though these controls are virtual, the interactions feel physical and responsive" as feedback is generated by the haptic sensation of fingers touching.

Google says the virtual tools can approximate the precision of natural human hand motion and the sensor can be embedded in wearables, phones, computers and vehicles.

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  • (Score: 0) by Anonymous Coward on Wednesday January 02 2019, @12:39PM (1 child)

    by Anonymous Coward on Wednesday January 02 2019, @12:39PM (#780994)

    The FCC permission says nothing about biological safety of this level of radiation in close or direct contact with the transmitter.

    14. To ensure that harmful interference to authorized operations and other spectrum users will not occur, we impose explicit conditions on the installation, operation and certification of the Google Soli sensor under this waiver, as follows:

     The Google Soli sensor shall be certified for compliance with all the technical specifications applicable to operation under 47 CFR. Part 15, with the exception of the following provisions in: 1) 47 CFR § 15.255(c)(3), which is waived to allow the device to operate in the 57-64 GHz band at a maximum +13 dBm EIRP, +10 dBm transmitter conducted output power, and +13 dBm/MHz power spectral density; and 2) 47 CFR § 15.255(b)(2), which is waived to allow the device to operate on-board aircraft while not being part of a closed, exclusive on-board communication networks within the aircraft. However, the Google Soli sensor shall comply with the prohibitions of use specified in 47 CFR § 15.255(b)(2)(i) and (ii).

     The Google Soli sensor shall operate with a maximum transmit duty cycle of 10 percent in any 33 milliseconds (ms) interval (i.e., the Soli sensor will not transmit longer than a total of 3.3 ms in any 33 ms time period).

    (here, PDF) [fcc.gov]

    People, who are already afraid of their smart meters and Wi-Fi, will get another item to worry about. Fortunately, 60 GHz band significantly attenuates in the air. Not that it will quell the fear. I wouldn't want to have such sensor in my devices; the fewer the better. Disabled users might need it regardless of possible effects. 60 GHz is well below ultraviolet, where ionizing radiation [wikipedia.org] begins, but some sources say that non-ionizing radiation is not good for you either.

  • (Score: 2) by DannyB on Wednesday January 02 2019, @02:44PM

    by DannyB (5839) Subscriber Badge on Wednesday January 02 2019, @02:44PM (#781024) Journal

    Don't be afraid of too much microwave power. Thanks to a "higher power" the hand motion sensor could also double as a convenient hand warmer.

    With enough power, even a hand dryer when the censor sensor detects that your hand motions are that of drying your hands.

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