Design and Experimental Demonstration of an Integrated Sensing and Communication System for Vital Sign Detection

作者：Chi Zhang, Jinyuan Duan, Shuai Lu, Duojun Zhang, Murat Temiz, Yongwei Zhang, Zhaozong Meng · 发表于：Sensors · 年份：2025 · DOI：10.3390/s25123766 · 被引用次数：3 · 研究领域：Non-Invasive Vital Sign Monitoring、Radar Systems and Signal Processing、Microwave Imaging and Scattering Analysis

The identification of vital signs is becoming increasingly important in various applications, including healthcare monitoring, security, smart homes, and locating entrapped persons after disastrous events, most of which are achieved using continuous-wave radars and ultra-wideband systems. Operating frequency and transmission power are important factors to consider when conducting earthquake search and rescue (SAR) operations in urban regions. Poor communication infrastructure can also impede SAR operations. This study proposes a method for vital sign detection using an integrated sensing and communication (ISAC) system where a unified orthogonal frequency division multiplexing (OFDM) signal was adopted, and it is capable of sensing life signs and carrying out communication simultaneously. An ISAC demonstration system based on software-defined radios (SDRs) was initiated to detect respiratory and heartbeat rates while maintaining communication capability in a typical office environment. The specially designed OFDM signals were transmitted, reflected from a human subject, received, and processed to estimate the micro-Doppler effect induced by the breathing and heartbeat of the human in the environment. According to the results, vital signs, including respiration and heartbeat rates, have been accurately detected by post-processing the reflected OFDM signals with a 1 MHz bandwidth, confirmed with conventional contact-based detection approaches. The potential of dual-function cap...