Principal Component Analysis for Heart Rate Measurement using UWB Radar

Abstract

This paper proposes a signal processing approach based on principal component analysis (PCA) for monitoring heart rate using an ultra-wideband impulse (UWB) radar. Vital signals including respiration and heart rate is measured by a UWB radar, and then compressed and projected on the main principal component. This projection helps to significantly improve the signal-to-noise ratio in comparison to other conventional methods such as direct fast Fourier transform and complex signal decomposition. Thus, an accurate measurement of heart rate can be obtained. The proposed approach can help improve about 10 dB of heartbeat signal.