Google’s Advanced Technology and Projects division has been working on Project Soli, a gesture-based system that utilizes radar to identify and and capture hand movements, since 2015. The purpose of the project is to create a technology that would allow users to give commands to their devices via hand-gestures alone.
In the years since the start of the project, Google has been limited in terms of power levels and frequency bands that they can use due to other tech companies having concerns about Project Soli. They are worried that Soli would interfere with already existing technology and complicate technology usage rather than improve it. Because of these concerns, the power levels that can be used for Soli have been limited.
Back in March of 2018, Google requested a waiver that would lift these restrictions, and allow them to use a higher frequency band that would improve the range and effectiveness of the technology. Roughly 10 months later, the FCC has granted Google’s request. Now that Google can act without restriction, Project Soli should see significant progress in 2019, possibly more progress than it has made in the 3 years since it began. This could be real future tech on our hands soon (pun unintended), so this project is one to keep your eye on.
