In this image released by the Department of Homeland Security, researchers tested the FINDER prototype technology at the Virginia Task Force 1 Training Facility in Lorton, Va.

(Department of Homeland Security)

NASA and the Department of Homeland Security have joined forces to create a radar detection device that searches out the most precious of treasures: the human heartbeat.

FINDER (Finding Individuals for Disaster and Emergency Response) is a lightweight, portable radio wave detector that acts as surrogate ears for emergency responders who are searching for victims in disaster scenarios.

In the aftermath of catastrophe, one the most immediate concerns is locating victims who may be trapped under wreckage. When it comes to finding a person who is potentially trapped under mountains of rubble, time is of the essence. The faster rescuers can get to victims, the higher their chance of survival.

That’s where FINDER comes in. According to NASA’s Jet Propulsion Lab, the latest version of the device can detect a heartbeat from and under 30 feet of crushed material and 20 feet of solid concrete. FINDER is so sensitive it can even tell the difference between humans and animals.

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“The microwave radar technology is sensitive enough to distinguish the unique signature of a human's breathing pattern and heartbeat from that of other living creatures, such as rats,” NASA reports.

Victims can be detected whether they are conscious or not, which helps first responders decide the best way to conduct search and rescue.

Currently, emergency responders use other forms of listening devices, video cameras and dogs in urban search and rescue missions. But one advantage to FINDER, which will complement rather than replace existing tools, is its size. Nextgov reports that the portable device is so small and lightweight that a single person can easily carry it — which makes it of radar detection technology.

Over the last several months, the Department of Homeland Security and the Jet Propulsion Lab have developed several prototypes for FINDER. According to the Jet Propulsion Lab (JPL), initial testing revealed that debris sometimes scrambled FINDER’s radar signal, making it hard to pick up on a human heartbeat. NASA’s expertise in radar technology — namely, deciphering faint signals from deep space — helped perfect a tool that would be sensitive enough to work in extreme scenarios like tornadoes and earthquakes.

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Other recent improvements to the prototype include a better user interface and an increase in battery life to up to 14 hours, which make the device more user-friendly.

FINDER could be ready for commercial release by spring 2014, after design changes to a new version of the device. So far, it’s been used in more than 65 test searches by two Urban Search and Rescue teams in Virginia, where first responders were able to give feedback on potential improvements.

In the future, NASA hopes to develop a locator function for FINDER, which at present just detects the presence of a victim, not exactly where he or she is under rubble. They also hope that future versions will be installed on search and rescue robots, on stretchers and ambulances and used in biology research.

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