The Walabot Starter is a small, programmable sensor tool that looks into objects using radio frequency technology sense the environment, bringing highly sophisticated sensing capabilities to your fingertips. This Walabot Starter version uses a three-antenna array to illuminate the area in front of it and sense the returning signals. The signals are produced and recorded by a VYYR2401 A3 System-on-Chip integrated circuit. They are then communicated to a host device (like your phone or computer) using a USB interface, which is implemented using a Cypress controller.
Through broadband recordings from multiple transmit/receive antenna pairs, the Walabot Starter is able to analyze and reconstruct a two-dimensional image of the environment. Analysis of sequences of images allows detecting changes in the environment. The Starter version is capable of basic range measurements and breathing pattern detection, and includes a micro-B to micro-B USB cable.
If a board needs code or communicates somehow, you're going to need to know how to program or interface with it. The programming skill is all about communication and code.
Skill Level: Competent - The toolchain for programming is a bit more complex and will examples may not be explicitly provided for you. You will be required to have a fundamental knowledge of programming and be required to provide your own code. You may need to modify existing libraries or code to work with your specific hardware. Sensor and hardware interfaces will be SPI or I2C.
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If it requires power, you need to know how much, what all the pins do, and how to hook it up. You may need to reference datasheets, schematics, and know the ins and outs of electronics.
Skill Level: Rookie - You may be required to know a bit more about the component, such as orientation, or how to hook it up, in addition to power requirements. You will need to understand polarized components.
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So the starters limitation is a resolution thing then.
Is it possible to extract I/Q data from this?
Could the 'Starter' see through something thin like paper?
The Walabot Starter is capable of basic range measurements and monitoring breathing patterns.
If you are using the "thin paper" to protect the board like an enclosure, it is possible to fix the Walabot:
This is explained in section 8. Mechanical Data under Walabot datasheet. I verified this note when writing the tutorial.
Unfortunately, the Starter is not able to do short range imaging due to the amount of antennas it has available. This is explained in the hookup guide as a note => Getting Started with Walabot.
Hopefully that clarifies a few things with the Starter and Developer.