SonarWatch: Field sensing technique for smartwatches based on ultrasound and motion

TL;DR

SonarWatch introduces a novel ultrasound-based sensing method for smartwatches that detects gestures and nearby objects, enhancing interaction capabilities without additional hardware.

Contribution

It presents a new acoustic sensing technique combining IMU and ultrasound to identify gestures and objects, improving smartwatch interaction.

Findings

Achieved 93.7% accuracy in various noise environments.

Power consumption comparable to physiological sensors.

Utilizes existing sensors for practical implementation.

Abstract

A smartwatch worn continuously on the wrist has the potential to perceive rich interactive gestures and natural behaviors of the user. Unfortunately, the current interaction functionality of smartwatches is primarily limited by the small touch screen. This paper proposes SonarWatch, a novel sensing technique that uses the acoustic field generated by the transceiver on the opposite sides of the watch to detect the presence of nearby objects and their shapes. This enables a range of gesture interactions and natural behavior perception. We designed an algorithm combining IMU and acoustic fields to identify these actions and optimize power consumption. We tested the performance of SonarWatch in different noise environments, achieving an overall accuracy of 93.7%. Its power consumption is close to that of physiological sensors. SonarWatch can achieve the above capabilities by utilizing the existing built-in sensors, making it a technology with solid practical value.