Nepal Earthquake: NASA's Heartbeat Detecting Radar Has Saved 4 Lives In Nepal So Far
NASA's new tech was recently used in saving human lives in Nepal. The heartbeat detecting radar saved the lives of four people trapped in the rubble left from recent earthquake in Nepal.
NASA's FINDER (Finding Individuals for Disaster and Emergency Response) located people by using a microwave radar that could sense and then locate their heartbeats. The prototype device is a joint effort from NASA and the U.S. Department of Homeland Security's Science and Technology Directorate.
FINDER can detect a heartbeat through 30 feet of debris, 20 feet of concrete, or 100 feet away in the open air. It can even pinpoint the location of a live person to five-foot range. FINDER is also capable of telling the difference between the heartbeat of animal and human.
The device is only a prototype at the moment and the agency plans to market the tool commercially.
NASA is also using its satellites to generate maps of remotely damaged areas.
Other companies are also testing their technologies in the affected areas. Skycatch is using its drones to provide high-res imagery that can be used to photograph areas to learn more about the damage. DigitalGlobe recently open-sourced its satellite imagery of Nepal to users.
