Amazon got the go-ahead from the Federal Communications Commission last week to develop devices with radar sensors that could enable touchless control and remote sleep monitoring.

The retail giant filed for a waiver last month that would allow it to develop radar sensors that operate at higher power levels than currently allowed.

In its request, Amazon described two possible use-cases for heightened radar capabilities, including touchless device-control through basic gestures and movements and contactless sleep-tracking.

Amazon made its case by claiming the radar sensors would improve the accessibility of its devices for consumers with mobility, speech or tactile impairments, and enable users to monitor their sleep habits to improve their overall health. The company says it can do all of this without harmfully interfering with other devices.

The radar features would only be available in “non-mobile” devices when they’re connected to a power source, which could relate to reports that Amazon is quietly building sleep apnea-detecting technology in its Alexa devices.

WHAT’S THE IMPACT?

The FCC permitted Amazon’s request based on a prior decision it made for radar technology developed by Google, according to the approval document.

“We find that Amazon’s Radar Sensor, when used for the specific types of applications that Amazon has described, is sufficiently analogous to the situations we evaluated for the Google Soli radar for us to reach the same conclusion here,” the FCC said.

“The power level under which the Amazon Radar Sensor will be permitted to operate will be the same as we previously permitted in the Google Waiver. And, as with Google’s devices, Amazon’s radars will be used to capture motion in a discrete space that is characterized by a short distance between the radar and what it is sensing.”

Google’s Soli radar allows for contactless device control and is intended for users with mobility, speech and tactile impairments.

Additionally, the FCC granted approval based on the potential benefit these radar sensors could have.

“Granting the waiver will provide substantial public benefit by, among other things, permitting the deployment of applications that can provide assistance to persons with disabilities and improve personal health and wellness,” it said.

“We believe that, without the higher power levels associated with the waiver, it is highly likely that Amazon would not be able to produce devices that transmit with large enough bandwidths to provide sufficient resolution to achieve these objectives.”

THE LARGER TREND

Earlier this year, Google shared its second-generation Nest Hub will use its Soli radar to remotely monitor users’ sleep movements and respiratory rate.

Amazon has been gradually moving into the health monitoring space ever since it released the Amazon Halo last August. Last month, the company updated the wearable’s features with Movement Health, a functional fitness tool.

Apple also recently upgraded its Apple Watch with tech designed to assist people with mobility, vision, hearing and cognitive disabilities. Although it doesn’t use radar sensors, the new features allow for contactless control through subtle muscle movements.

Other digital health companies developing sleep-tracking technology include Itamar Medical, which recently acquired Spry Health to build out its wearable sleep apnea treatment, and Withings, which last year unveiled an under-the-mattress sleep tracking device.