Everything about RuView
The most common questions about RuView, WiFi CSI sensing, ESP32 hardware and AI-driven human detection.
What is RuView?+
RuView is an open-source AI WiFi sensing and human detection system. It uses WiFi CSI from ESP32 hardware plus edge AI to detect presence, motion, breathing and heartbeat — completely camera-free.
Is RuView real?+
Yes. RuView is a real open-source project hosted on GitHub at github.com/ruvnet/RuView. The pipeline (CSI capture, Rust engine, AI inference) is fully implementable today on commodity ESP32 boards.
How does WiFi sensing work?+
Every WiFi packet picks up phase and amplitude distortions as it crosses a space. Channel State Information (CSI) exposes those per-subcarrier distortions, and AI models map them to human presence and motion.
Does RuView use cameras?+
No. RuView is intentionally camera-free and microphone-free. It senses humans purely through radio-wave perturbations — making it suitable for environments where imagery would be invasive or illegal.
What hardware is needed?+
An ESP32-S3 or ESP32-C5 board with CSI firmware, an existing WiFi access point or a second ESP32 transmitter, and any small host (Raspberry Pi or mini PC) to run the RuView Rust engine.
Can WiFi detect breathing?+
Yes. Sub-Hz Doppler shifts in CSI caused by chest movement let RuView estimate breathing rate, and under good conditions even heart rate — contactless and from across a room.
Is WiFi sensing legal?+
WiFi sensing typically uses your own equipment on your own network and does not capture imagery or audio. Jurisdictions vary; you should still inform occupants and respect local privacy laws.
Can ESP32 detect movement?+
Yes. ESP32 chips can expose CSI for every WiFi packet they receive. With RuView's signal processing and AI on top, ESP32 effectively becomes a low-cost motion radar.