Technical Perspective: NeuroRadar: Can Radar Systems Be Reimagined Using Computational Principles?

Interest in miniature radar systems has grown dramatically in recent years as they enable rich interaction and health monitoring in everyday settings. By 2025, industrial radar applications are anticipated to encompass 10 million devices, whereas the consumer market will reach a substantial 250 million. The applications are diverse--for example, Google's Pixel phones incorporated radar for gesture control, while small radar sensors are being deployed in homes to monitor elderly residents' movements and detect falls, offering more privacy than camera-based solutions. However, conventional radar architectures rely on complex RF front ends with power amplifiers, low-noise amplifiers, and phase-locked loops, collectively consuming hundreds of milliwatts of power. This makes radar sensing impractical for battery-powered or self-powered Internet of Things (IoT) devices and wearables.