EtherSense transforms the ambient radio frequency spectrum—WiFi, Bluetooth, cellular, and other wireless signals—into a comprehensive environmental intelligence system. Imagine perceiving human activity, emotional states, and spatial dynamics without cameras, microphones, or invasive sensors. Our platform decodes the subtle perturbations in everyday wireless signals to create a rich, privacy-conscious understanding of physical spaces.
Unlike traditional sensor-based approaches, EtherSense operates as a passive observer of existing RF emissions, turning what was once considered "signal noise" into valuable contextual data. The system functions as a sixth sense for smart environments, enabling responsive spaces that understand their occupants while maintaining absolute visual and auditory privacy.
- Activity Mapping: Visualize human movement and presence through RF shadow and reflection analysis
- Vital Sign Extraction: Detect heart rate, respiration patterns, and emotional arousal from micro-movements
- Material Characterization: Identify construction materials and object composition through signal penetration profiles
- Spatial Intelligence: Map room layouts, furniture placement, and structural features without line-of-sight
- Multi-Band Fusion: Correlate data across WiFi (2.4/5/6 GHz), Bluetooth, and sub-GHz bands
- Temporal Pattern Recognition: Learn daily routines, occupancy patterns, and anomalous behaviors
- Cross-Device Synchronization: Coordinate multiple receivers for enhanced spatial resolution
- Adaptive Calibration: Self-adjust to environmental changes and new signal sources
- Zero-Pixel Monitoring: No visual or audio data ever captured or processed
- Anonymous Analytics: Person detection without identity recognition
- On-Device Processing: Optional local-only operation with no cloud dependency
- Regulatory Compliance: Designed for GDPR, CCPA, and emerging privacy frameworks
- Processor: x86-64 or ARMv8 with AES-NI support
- Memory: 8 GB RAM minimum, 16 GB recommended
- Storage: 20 GB available space
- RF Hardware: Compatible Software Defined Radio or multi-antenna WiFi card
- Operating System: See compatibility table below
# Download the latest distribution package
# See download badge at top or bottom of this document
# Extract and configure
tar -xzf ethersense-distro-2026.1.tar.gz
cd ethersense-distro
./configure --with-rf-frontend=sdrplay --processing-mode=hybrid
# Initialize the perception database
etherdb init --path ./sensedata --encryption=aes256
# Launch the ambient intelligence engine
ethersense start --profile residential --log-level infoCreate config/ambient-home.yaml:
environment:
profile: "residential"
privacy_level: "enhanced"
data_retention: "7d"
rf_bands:
monitored:
- band: "2.4g"
channels: [1, 6, 11]
mode: "continuous"
- band: "5g"
channels: [36, 40, 44, 48]
mode: "adaptive"
sampling_rate: "100ms"
features:
enabled:
- presence_detection
- activity_mapping
- wellness_monitoring
- spatial_learning
disabled:
- identity_correlation
- voice_proxying
processing:
location: "edge"
cloud_sync: "encrypted_summaries_only"
ai_models:
openai:
enabled: true
endpoint: "https://api.openai.com/v1/chat/completions"
usage: "behavior_pattern_analysis"
anthropic:
enabled: true
endpoint: "https://api.anthropic.com/v1/messages"
usage: "contextual_interpretation"
output:
formats: ["json", "prometheus", "home_assistant"]
destinations:
mqtt:
host: "localhost"
topic: "home/ethersense"
api:
port: 8080
authentication: "jwt"# Start with specific environmental tuning
ethersense start \
--environment residential \
--privacy-mode enhanced \
--rf-hardware hackrf \
--sample-rate 20M \
--frequency 2.437G \
--bandwidth 40M \
--gain 40 \
--output json-stream \
--ai-assist openai \
--context "elderly_care_monitoring" \
--alert-rules ./config/alerts/wellness.yaml
# Monitor specific metrics in real-time
ethermon --metric vital_signs --format dashboard --refresh 2s
# Export spatial learning data
etherexport --type spatial_map --format gltf --output ./maps/living_room.gltf
# Generate daily wellness report
etherreport --period 24h --template wellness_summary --output pdfgraph TB
subgraph "RF Perception Layer"
A[Ambient RF Signals] --> B{SDR Frontend}
B --> C[Multi-Band Receiver]
C --> D[Signal Conditioning]
end
subgraph "Cognitive Processing"
D --> E[Feature Extraction]
E --> F[Temporal Analysis]
F --> G[Pattern Recognition]
G --> H[Contextual Fusion]
end
subgraph "Intelligence Services"
H --> I[Presence Detection]
H --> J[Activity Mapping]
H --> K[Wellness Monitoring]
H --> L[Spatial Learning]
end
subgraph "AI Enhancement"
M[OpenAI API] --> N[Behavior Analysis]
O[Claude API] --> P[Context Interpretation]
N --> H
P --> H
end
subgraph "Output Interface"
I --> Q[MQTT/API Streams]
J --> R[3D Spatial Maps]
K --> S[Wellness Dashboard]
L --> T[Environmental Profile]
end
subgraph "Privacy Enforcement"
U[Anonymization Engine] --> V[Differential Privacy]
V --> W[Local Processing]
W --> X[Encrypted Export]
end
E --> U
Q --> Y[Home Automation]
R --> Z[AR Visualization]
| Operating System | Compatibility | Notes | Emoji Status |
|---|---|---|---|
| Ubuntu 22.04+ | Native Support | Recommended for production | 🟢 Excellent |
| Debian 12+ | Full Support | Stable with backports | 🟢 Excellent |
| Raspberry Pi OS | Optimized | ARM64 with hardware acceleration | 🟡 Good |
| Windows 11 WSL2 | Supported | Requires USB passthrough | 🟡 Good |
| macOS 14+ | Experimental | Limited SDR hardware support | 🟠 Partial |
| Docker Container | Universal | Isolated RF hardware access | 🟢 Excellent |
| Kubernetes | Orchestrated | Multi-node sensing arrays | 🟢 Excellent |
The system presents a dynamic web dashboard that visualizes RF perception data as intuitive environmental maps. Unlike traditional graphs, our interface represents space as a living entity that breathes with occupant activity, where signal strength manifests as gentle luminescence and movement creates ripples through the interface.
EtherSense speaks the language of your environment. The system automatically adapts terminology, units, and reporting formats based on regional preferences and application context. From medical monitoring to industrial safety, the platform contextualizes its output for diverse professional domains.
Our platform maintains constant improvement through secure, anonymized learning from diverse environments. Each installation contributes to the collective intelligence of the system while preserving absolute local privacy—a true ambient intelligence collective.
- OpenAI API Synthesis: Transforms raw signal patterns into human-readable environmental narratives, identifying subtle behavioral trends invisible to traditional analysis
- Claude API Interpretation: Provides ethical context framing and suggests privacy-conscious applications of detected patterns
- Hybrid Intelligence: Local neural networks handle real-time detection while cloud AI provides contextual understanding
Non-contact patient monitoring in hospitals and elder care facilities, detecting falls, monitoring sleep patterns, and observing mobility trends without compromising dignity or privacy.
Intelligent climate control, lighting adjustment, and space utilization tracking based on actual occupancy rather than scheduled estimates, reducing energy consumption by 30-45%.
Understand customer flow, engagement zones, and product interaction without facial recognition or tracking cameras, enabling ethical consumer behavior analysis.
Monitor restricted zones, detect unauthorized presence near hazardous equipment, and ensure social distancing in manufacturing environments.
Presence detection, unusual activity patterns, and wellness checking for family members, all without the privacy concerns of traditional security cameras.
EtherSense is designed for operation within authorized frequency bands and power limits. Users are responsible for complying with local radio frequency regulations, including but not limited to FCC (United States), CE (European Union), and MIC (Japan) requirements. Some features may require special permits for transmission-capable hardware.
While our platform employs advanced anonymization techniques, ultimate privacy protection depends on proper configuration, physical security, and responsible usage. We recommend regular security audits and privacy impact assessments for deployment in sensitive environments.
RF-based perception operates under different constraints than optical systems. Accuracy may vary with building materials, signal interference, and environmental conditions. The system provides probabilistic assessments rather than absolute determinations.
By using EtherSense, you agree to employ the technology in ways that respect human dignity, autonomy, and privacy. We prohibit applications involving unauthorized surveillance, discrimination, or manipulation of individuals without informed consent.
EtherSense is released under the MIT License. This permissive license allows for academic, commercial, and personal use with minimal restrictions while requiring attribution.
Copyright © 2026 EtherSense Contributors
Permission is hereby granted, free of charge, to any person obtaining a copy of this software and associated documentation files (the "Software"), to deal in the Software without restriction, including without limitation the rights to use, copy, modify, merge, publish, distribute, sublicense, and/or sell copies of the Software, and to permit persons to whom the Software is furnished to do so, subject to the following conditions:
The above copyright notice and this permission notice shall be included in all copies or substantial portions of the Software.
THE SOFTWARE IS PROVIDED "AS IS", WITHOUT WARRANTY OF ANY KIND, EXPRESS OR IMPLIED, INCLUDING BUT NOT LIMITED TO THE WARRANTIES OF MERCHANTABILITY, FITNESS FOR A PARTICULAR PURPOSE AND NONINFRINGEMENT. IN NO EVENT SHALL THE AUTHORS OR COPYRIGHT HOLDERS BE LIABLE FOR ANY CLAIM, DAMAGES OR OTHER LIABILITY, WHETHER IN AN ACTION OF CONTRACT, TORT OR OTHERWISE, ARISING FROM, OUT OF OR IN CONNECTION WITH THE SOFTWARE OR THE USE OR OTHER DEALINGS IN THE SOFTWARE.
For complete license terms, see the LICENSE file in the distribution.
EtherSense represents a paradigm shift in how we interact with our environments. By listening to the radio frequency whispers that already surround us, we gain profound insights without adding more sensors, cameras, or invasive technologies. The platform continues to evolve, with research underway in emotional state detection through micro-movement analysis, predictive health monitoring from gait patterns, and even interpersonal relationship dynamics through proximity and interaction frequency.
Join us in building a more perceptive yet respectful world—where technology understands without intruding, protects without surveilling, and assists without controlling.
Distribution Includes: Core perception engine, web dashboard, command-line tools, sample configurations, documentation, and compatibility modules for common SDR hardware.
First-Time Setup Guide: See docs/quickstart.md after extraction.
Community Support: Join our discourse on ethical ambient intelligence and RF perception technology.
Commercial Licensing: Available for enterprise deployment and OEM integration.