RAPID: 6Fit-a-Part: A Device for Physical Distancing

这项研究建议创建一个定制的可穿戴设备，通过提醒用户当另一个类似的设备冒险太近时，帮助物理距离。通过警告人们潜在的安全距离违规行为，这项研究旨在预防COVID-19的传播，降低在杂货店、药店、医院、仓库等公共场所的暴露风险，并减轻公共卫生问题。所提出的装置可以附在衣服上，作为臂带佩戴，或夹在常见物体上，例如购物车，篮子和行李。利用无线测距技术，该设备不断测量与附近类似设备的距离，如果在近距离内检测到另一个设备，则会发出警报。它不会被来自用户身体的信号阻挡所吓倒，但会忽略相邻房间或相邻通道中的设备，因为病毒不太可能跨越这些屏障传播。智能手机上现有的无线距离测量技术无法进行这种区分，因此有必要进行这项研究。这项工作分析了无线反射和信号强度变化，提高了距离测量的可靠性，并推进了无线传感科学。这项研究希望提供能够更快恢复正常的工具，同时保持谨慎并避免新的COVID-19浪潮。这项研究创建了一种定制的可穿戴设备，可以确定其与附近所有类似设备的距离，并在未保持安全距离时警告用户。所提出的设备使用超宽带（UWB）无线信号进行通信，允许在现实世界的多径环境中进行精确的距离估计（测距），这是智能手机上现有的无线技术无法实现的。这项工作将有两个核心贡献：（i）一个修改的测距协议，对等距离测量，和（ii）环境传感技术，执行（a）直接的视线测量，（B）那些跨越物理障碍（如墙壁），（c）那些受身体阻塞的信号之间的3路区分。需要修改现有的测距协议，因为UWB距离测量是基于多个无线数据包交换精确的定时信息-一种机制，可以导致严重的无线冲突时，离开不协调。需要环境传感以避免错误警报。例如，当两个设备靠近但被墙隔开时，可能会发生误报（骚扰警报）。实际上，当人自己的身体阻挡无线信号导致错误的距离测量时，可能发生假阴性。这些贡献预计将推动无线传感和多设备测距方面的知识，同时通过改进物理距离的实施实现更安全的公共场所，其影响甚至超越COVID-19。该奖项反映了NSF的法定使命，并通过使用基金会的知识价值和更广泛的影响审查标准进行评估，被认为值得支持。

This research proposes to create a custom wearable device that aids physical distancing by alerting the user when another similar device ventures too close. By warning people of potential safe-distance violations, this research aims at preventing the transmission of COVID-19 and reducing the risk of exposure at public places including grocery stores, pharmacies, hospitals, warehouses, and mitigating public health concerns. The proposed device can be attached to clothing, be worn as an arm-band, or clamp to common objects, such as shopping carts, baskets, and luggage. Using wireless distance measurement technology, the proposed device constantly measures the distance from similar nearby devices, raising alarm if another one is detected in close-range. It would remain undeterred by signal blocking from the user's body, yet ignore devices in an adjoining room or neighboring aisle, since virus transmission across such barriers is unlikely. Existing wireless distance measuring technology on smartphones is unable to make this distinction, necessitating this research. This work analyzes wireless reflections and signal strength variations improving the reliability of distance measurements, and advancing the science of wireless sensing. This research hopes to provide the tools that will enable quicker restoration of normalcy while remaining cautious and avoiding new COVID-19 waves.This research creates a custom wearable device that determines its distance from all similar devices in the vicinity and warns users when safe distance is not maintained. The proposed device communicates using ultra-wideband (UWB) wireless signals allowing accurate distance estimation (ranging) in real-world multipath environments, which existing wireless technology on a smartphone cannot achieve. This work will have two core contributions: (i) a modified ranging protocol for peer-peer distance measurements, and (ii) an environment-sensing technique, performing a 3-way distinction between (a) direct line-of-sight measurements, (b) those across physical barriers (like walls), and (c) those affected by body-blocking of the signals. Modifications to existing ranging protocols are required since UWB distance measurements are based on multiple wireless packets exchanging precise timing information--a mechanism that can lead to severe wireless collisions when left uncoordinated. Environmental sensing is required to avoid false alarms. For example, false-positives (nuisance-alarms) may occur when two devices are close-by but separated by a wall. Contrarily, false negatives can occur when a person's own body blocks wireless signals causing erroneous distance measurements. These contributions are expected to advance knowledge in wireless sensing and multi-device ranging, while enabling safer public places through improved implementation of physical distancing, with impact even beyond COVID-19.This award reflects NSF's statutory mission and has been deemed worthy of support through evaluation using the Foundation's intellectual merit and broader impacts review criteria.