Hindsight

Radar Assisted Active Listening

Personal Project w/ Chat Group Support

Designed for the fun of it

Function

Scenario: Sometimes trail/ path users want to tune into their media, and tune out their surroundings.

Problem: You hear what is going on behind you.

Custom Array

There are a variety of radar arrays on the market, but most are focused on picking up hard targets (vehicles) at a distance. Based on research into multiple options; a custom array could be developed to pick up soft targets (humans) at a reasonable distance for this product.

Array & Mics

With an estimated array size in mind, I considered options for arranging the components.

A vertical stack with mics side by side allowed for the shortest/ narrowest configuration. This would be ideal for a user to wear on their back with minimal discomfort.

Where to Wear?

The radar array and microphones must be unobstructed for proper function. This means that the device must be worn over clothing. It also needs remain pointed behind the user, so somewhere on the back makes the most sense.

Early thinking on this project concluded that haptic feedback would be a challenge with the device possibly being worn over layers of clothing or a backpack.

AI Assist

I got stuck in a bit of a design rut after spending so much time exploring the technical aspects. The solution I tried was using various AI text to image generators with prompts such as; Memphis Group, spine, and stacked cubes.