Surveillance through walls and other opaque materials

Lawrence M. Frazier
Hughes Advanced Electromagnetic Technologies Center
Hughes Missile Systems Company, Rancho Cucamonga, CA. 91730

ABSTRACT
The Department ofDefense (DoD) has funded a dazzling array of Thigh tech" solutions for many ofthe problems facing our
military forces. Many ofthese "solution? have been effective for long range mass destruction but have not been applicable for
the close4n hand4o4iand combat that we find in our streets. Our goal has been to convert "high tech" DoD capabilies into
cost effective tools to help law enforcement agencies do theirjobs better. Surveillance systems presently used by law
enforcement officers make extensive use oftelevision, infrared and other Line-of-Sight (LOS) surveillance systems. However,
these systems cannot tell what is happening on the other side ofa wall, behind bushes, around the corner, in the dark or
through a dense fog.
A new sensor has been developed, based upon technology developed by the DoD for missile warhead fusing. This small, light
weight, low power "Radar" is based upon the phenomena that optimized radio waves can penetrate non-metallic materials.
This new surveillance capability can help provide information about what is in a wall, ceiling or floor or on the other side of a
door or concrete wall. We will discuss some applications to show how this radar works and how field users can tell if someone
is moving inside a building, even when the surveillance officer is several blocks away from the radar.
Keywords: motion detection, wall & fog penetration sensor, surveillance, portable radar, remote sensing, law enforcement aid

1. INTRODUCTION
When the word RADAR is mentioned, most people VisUaliZe the large radars like those used at airports and onboard ships.
These high power radars (100,000 watts), search long range (10 to 100 miles) and are relatively expensive (5 to 50 million
dollars). Others may visualize the smaller radars on pleasure boats or vehicle speed detection radars located in police cars.

The radars discussed in this paper are small (fits in a briefcase), veiy low power (less than 0.01 watts output), short range (less
than 200 feet) and low cost (several thousand dollars). These radars detect motion and create a simple tone alert and relay
switch closure when motion is detected. There are no radar screens or other complicated displays or controls to operate. Hand
held communications radio that operate in the commercial radio band (VHF - 151 MHz or UHF 464 MHz), are used to
transmit the output sounds ofthe radar to the remote operator who may be a mile or more from the radar sensor.
Police and other law enforcement agencies (LEA5) often find it desirable to know the location ofa concealed person. That
person might be on the other side ofa door, behind a wall, above the ceiling, on the other side ofa cement block wall, in the
dark or even in a dense fog. Frequently, there is a need for remote covert surveillance ofa location where a suspected illegal
activity might occur. These activities might include a drug deal, robbeiy, theft, hostage situation, hidden suspects, and even the
detection oftaggers. Surveillance in the dark is greatly enhanced where even the slight motion ofa suspect such as moving a
hand or shifting of position could trigger an alert. Numerous field exercises of the Motion Detection Radar (MDR) have
demonstrated significant improvements in LEA field user performance and potential for saving lives.

2. HISTORICAL CONSIDERATIONS
When the subject of law enforcement surveillance is discussed, television (TV) cameras, infrared (IR) sensors or hidden
microphones with remote transmitters are usually considered. Each of these sensors have greatly enhanced the surveillance
activities LEAs. However, these sensors are generally Line-ofSight (LOS) devices that must have a clear visual view of the
surveillance area. The LOS restriction is a major limitation for police field surveillance. Night time operations are also limited
by the amount of light available for the TVs to work. It is difficult to setup this type of surveillance without being detected.

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Visual surveillance, even withthe aid of television can be tedious and frustrating. A person watching a TV screen ofan area
where there is nothing going on soon loses interest. Because ofthe human "detection and alert" process used in visual
surveillance, other distractions or drowsiness can cause important activities to be missed. A remote positive alert such as a tone
or flashing light that only activates when there is activity in the specific area would greatly enhance this type of surveillance.
The motion detection radar adds a new dimension to the art ofsurveillance that is not limited by the LOS. The surveillance
can be effective even through concrete walls and wooden doors. It requires veiy little setup and does not have any external
wires connected to it. Unlike the TV cameras and JR sensors that must be concealed to keep from being obvious, the MDR can
be placed in a "safe location" on the other side ofa wall or hidden in a container with nonmetallic walls. The MDR provides
an effective timely alert even ifthe person doing the surveillance is doing something else or inadvertently nods offdue to
fatigue.

3. TECHNICAL DISCUSSION
The Motion Detection Radar shown in Figure 1 uses a sensitive CW phase detector. The radar has been approved by the FCC
for operation in the 902 to 928 MHz frequency band. There are a number of restrictions imposed by the FCC which limit the
amount ofpower radiated from the antenna and signal harmonic content ofany commercially sold product using this frequency
band. While this is not necessarily the best frequency for material penetration, it is a reasonable compromise because it can be
sold and used commercially and has proven to be effective.

There are two different antenna types available for the this system. One is a "high gain" directional antenna with
approximately 9 dB gain. It produces a cone shaped pattern that is +I 45 degrees at the -3dB point. This antenna radiates
from the right edge ofthe thin, 13 inch square antenna. This antenna has a front to back and sides ratio ofbetter than 10:1.
The second antenna is a veiy broad beam omni-directional antenna. The omni antenna is 6 inches square and has a gain of
one. The omni-antenna covers the complete volume around the antenna. It provides much shorter range coverage than the
high gain antenna but is aspect independent when placed or thrown into a location to be observed.

ATR

("

Upto 100'
Extension Cable

Optional
ATR Unit
VHF or
UHF Link
Remote

Transmitter

Transmitter!
Receiver unit

+1450
Beam

0mmAntenna

________
Remote
Receiver

Sound
Alert

FIGURE 1 BLOCK DIAGRAM OF MOTION DETECTION RADAR

A transmitter and receiver (TR) unit is mounted on each antenna. A small cable for power and signal is connected from the
radar control unit to the TR unit. The length of this cable can be extended to 100 feet or more for remote antenna operation or
can be used in "throw phones."
The signal processor restricts the sensitivity of radar to motions between 0.5 feet per second to 5 feet per second. This covers
the range of motion that could be expected from a human being under most conditions. There are two outputs from the radar.

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The first is a relay closure which activates anytime there is motion detected above the adjustable threshold setting. The second
is an audio tone which varies in pitch proportional to the motion that is being detected. The pilot tone is 60 Hz when there is
no motion. The tone rises to approximately 300 Hz when motion is detected. The tone will fluctuate in pitch with the motion
which gives a relative indication ofthe distance to the radar, and the speed that the person is moving.
A hand-held portable, commercial band (VHF or UHF) radio is controlled by the MDR relay. When motion is detected, the
radio transmitter is keyed. The MDR audio tone is applied to the mikejack ofthe radio. One or more similar portable radio
receivers are used to pickup the transmitted signal at ranges ofup to one mile from the MDR.

4. FIELD APPLICATIONS
To better understand the potential use ofthe Motion Detection Radar, let us now consider several "such as" scenarios where the
MDR might be deployed:

SCENARIO 1: A phone call was received that gun shots were heard in the apartment next to the informant When officers
arrived at the scene and upon talking with the informant, they were told that nothing has been heard from the apartment since.
The officers then placed two MDR units in the informant's apartment. One was looking through the wall near the front door
of the suspect's apartment and the other was looking through the same wall at the rear of the apartment as shown in Figure 2.
The officers attempted to make voice contact with the suspect, but there was no answer. The officers then moved away from
the suspect location. Within 5 minutes there was a clear indication of motion on the MDR near the front door in the suspects
apartment. The officers then knew that the suspect was alive, mobile and probably armed. Next, an officer went to the rear of
the apartment and threw a rock at the rear window. The first MDR alarmed and then the second MDR started to alarm
indicating that the suspect was moving away from the front door to the rear of the apartment With this knowledge the officers
were able to distract the suspect and plan their apprehension with increased personal safety and reduction of field time.

FIGURE 2 SCENARIO NUMBER 1 CONFIGURATION

SCENARIO 2: Word had been received that high value items were being taken from a secured warehouse. Someone had
been entering a restricted area and removing high value items. Two MDR units were used. The first MDR was hidden next to
the container near the locked storage case inside the restricted area. A second MDR was hidden just behind the door at the
entrance. A guard, that was located in another part of the buildin& was alerted by the MDR remote radio that someone had
entered the area. This early warning provided by the MDR near the door provided enough time for the guard to call another
guard for help and to get to the scene while the suspect was still there. The second MDR confirmed that the suspect was still
at the scene while the officers were in route. The suspect was arrested at the scene.

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SCENARIO 3: It was two o'clock in the morning. An armed robbery suspect had fled the house and was suspected of hiding
in a clump ofbushes in the back yard. There was a block wall fence next door. One MDR was placed on the other side ofthe
block wall, looking into the suspected area. A second MDR was placed in the walkway between the front and back yard. A
third MDR was placed in the back yard ofthe adjoining house on the next street, behind the robbery house. The officers fake
calling offthe search, and move out ofthe immediate area. The suspect, thinking that the officers had left started to move toward the block wall fence. The MDR alert was sounded, and when the suspect came over the fence he was captured. If the
suspect had not been in the back yard, the MDR would not have indicated motion, and the officers would have a good indication that the suspect was not there. A loud noise might have been used to startle the suspect and cause him to move also.
SCENARIO 4: In a certain area of town, a veiy high level ofvehicle theft had been reported. Police mobile surveillance of
the area had done little to reduce the theft. A MDR unit was placed in the back seat ofa decoy car, and the surveillance officers
left the immediate area. A second surveillance officer was hidden in one ofthe buildings near the scene. He had a second receiver that could hear the same MDR alert. Both officers could talk with each other on the hand held units which they are
monitoring the MDR. When the thief first started to get into the car, the remote MDR alarm sounded in the remote police
surveillance vehicle, two blocks away and at the hidden officer's location. This alert gave the officers a minute or so advantage
to get to the scene before the suspect could get the vehicle hot-wired. The suspect was surprised and arrested at the scene.

SCENARIO 5: The wall on a public building had been spray painted with graffiti a number oftimes. Each lime the city
repainted the wall, within a few days, the graffiti was back. The MDR was placed inside the building, on the other side of the
wall. When the "artist" returned two nights later, there were several minutes ofwarning that he was there. This gave the
officers sufficient time to catch him in the act. This same approach could be used for road signs and bridges which are often
the target oftaggers. This same approach could also be used for repeat robberies ofthe same location.
SCENARIO 6: Officers received a call for help from a female at a residence ofa suspected gang member. When the two
officers arrived, the front door was open. There was no response from anyone inside. The officers went in, leaving a MDR unit
by the front door. They found no one in the front room. When they went into the kitchen they found a female lying on the
floor with what appeared to be blood. The officers started to determine the condition of the woman when an alert came from
the MDR at the front door. The officers took cover, and in the next instant a man with a gun started firing through the kitchen
door. The officers were able to return the fire and the suspect was apprehended. The female was a decoy and was also arrested.
These are just a few of the scenarios where the MDR can make a difference. There are numerous other applications. Training
with the MDR before the situation will increase officer safety and make operations even smoother.

5. LIMITATIONS
There are situations when the MDR will not detect motion. If the MDR is placed behind a wall that has a mirror as shown in
figure 3, TV or other metal object, the radar signals cannot penetrate and there will be no alerts.

Unwanted
reflections
from the

Shadow Cau5

MDR

walls

I by Mirror

Normal Radar Beam

A

FIGURE 3 SOME SYSTEM LIMITATIONS

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Sometimes, old walls with thick "lead based paint" will cause a reduction in the MDR sensitivity. Wet concrete walls will also
reduce the sensitivity. When the radar is pointed directly at a wall, some ofthe radar energy reflects off the walijust as a glass
window pane reflects images as shown in Figure 3. Because ofthis characteristic it is important that users ofthe radar move
all persons and moving objects away from the radar location before using "high sensitivity" to find slight motions in the next
room. If the suspect in the next room is sleeping or watching TV, there may be some time before they move enough to produce
an alarm. A false alarm may be created by a big dog moving around the area. These are some ofthe situations where problems
have been encountered. While they are not unexpected when they are understood, these limitations can be confusing if the
MDR operator is not trained properly for prior to field deployment Typically, when two or more MDR units were deployed to
a scene they provided far better information about the situation geometiy than just one.
When in a buildin& the MDR should be placed as high in the room as possible. Most articles of furniture are lower than 5feet
from the floor. Placing the MDR above 5 feetwill reduce the effects of these obstructions.
Optimum sensitivity through concrete, brick and stucco walls comes when the MDR is placed 2 to 3 feet from the wall. At
further or closer distances the sensitivity decreases slightly. The system should be tested on similar walls before being used in
field operations. Once the MDR has been put in place, it should be tested to ensure that the desired sensitivity has been set for
the situation at hand.

6. CONCLUSIONS
The MDR is just one of a group dual..use "wall penetrating radars" that we have developed. Other systems are ultra-wide band
Linear FM CW systems that operate at different frequencies from VHF to millimeter waves. Each radar system has been
designed to achieve the desired performance at an affordable price for specific types of law enforcement activities. These
systems are presently in the field being used by a number of law enforcement organizations. The MDRs have helped increase
officer safety and have reduced the time in dangerous field operations.

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