# VSMART: Vital Sign Monitoring viA Remote Tracking

> **NSF 01002526DB NSF RESEARCH & RELATED ACTIVIT** · Rutgers University New Brunswick (NJ) · $500,000

## Abstract

Radar technology for monitoring vital signs, including heart rate and respiration rate, shows significant potential in transforming health monitoring via remote, continuous observation of multiple individuals. While phased arrays have been widely used in radar-based vital sign monitoring due to their low cost and effectiveness in single-person applications, they lack the flexibility to generate beams with well-controlled sidelobes required for monitoring individuals in close proximity. This project introduces VSMART (Vital Sign Monitoring via Remote Tracking), a system that integrates hardware, signal processing, and machine learning to enable continuous, remote monitoring of vital signs across multiple individuals. VSMART is designed to reduce interference and deliver high-accuracy performance at low cost. The research also explores the system’s adaptability for remote blood pressure monitoring. VSMART is particularly suited for deployment in crowded critical care environments, assisted living facilities, and nurseries, with applications including apnea detection and identification of sudden infant death syndrome in newborns. Additionally, the project contributes to curriculum development and offers opportunities for both graduate and undergraduate students to engage in research.

The research pursues the following objectives: (i) Develop a novel, cost-effective radar transmitter architecture capable of producing well-controlled beams targeted at specific regions of the hu

## Key facts

- **NSF award ID:** 2433397
- **Awardee organization:** Rutgers University New Brunswick (NJ)
- **SAM.gov UEI:** M1LVPE5GLSD9
- **PI:** Athina P Petropulu
- **Primary program:** 01002526DB NSF RESEARCH & RELATED ACTIVIT
- **All programs:** Wireless comm & sig processing
- **Estimated total:** $500,000
- **Funds obligated:** $500,000
- **Transaction type:** Standard Grant
- **Period:** 09/01/2025 → 08/31/2028

## Primary source

NSF Award Search: https://www.nsf.gov/awardsearch/showAward?AWD_ID=2433397

## Citation

> US National Science Foundation, Award 2433397, VSMART: Vital Sign Monitoring viA Remote Tracking. Retrieved via AI Analytics 2026-06-06 from https://api.ai-analytics.org/grant/nsf/2433397. Licensed CC0.

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