Advances in Non-Contact Human Vital Sign Detection: A Detailed Survey of Radar and Wireless Solutions

Abstract

Radar-based systems for non-contact vital sign (VS) detection have seen significant advances in recent years, with innovations in portable radar and antenna designs along with signal processing techniques. These systems are crucial for applications ranging from healthcare to emergency response, providing continuous and accurate monitoring of VSs without the need for direct contact with the subject. In other words, important physiological indicators such as respiratory and heart rates can be measured without electrodes. Currently, the utilization of various technologies in clinical settings is reported which demonstrates the advances achieved in the accurate extraction of VSs. Significant attempts have been made by the researchers leading to an increase in the overall performance of the designed healthcare systems. This study covers recently presented advances across different radar and wireless technologies, focusing on their unique contributions and comparative performances in various application scenarios. The recent studies published in the domain of VSs are summarized in detail, and afterward the authors' outlook regarding the future of this concept is presented. This review would pave the way for designers to develop a suitable and high-performance apparatus applicable to health monitoring. © 2025 Elsevier B.V., All rights reserved.