A radio-activated desktop mouse using Walabot UWB radar

The Walabot is a programmable radar device that uses ultra wideband technology to make an 3D image of its surroundings. The ultra-narrow pulses transmitted by its 18 internal antenna array are produced by a 3D imaging chip made by Vayyar. Via a set experiments the strengths and limitations of the Walabot’s functionality are found and it is tested if the Walabot could prevent or treat RSI symptoms caused by excessive computer uses. In this study was found that objects were able to be tracked by the Walabot up to 10 meters with an accuracy up to a few centimetres. For azimuth or elevation angles greater than 70 degrees, grating lobes occur and disturb the scanned image. The time it takes to scan the position of a hand, in combination with the needed processing time, makes the polling rate of the desktop mouse application too low to function properly and thus preventing RSI symptoms. Instead, the Walabot performs best if it is used for tracking locations of larger moving objects with a lower required accuracy and delay time.