Please tell me the non contact methods of measuring height of humans.?

Question

Ultrasonic method is what I know. I want to know if it is safe to use inductance and capacitence sensors for this purpose. How safe are the laser distance sensors for this?

Answer 1

Here’s is a embodiment of a shadow method mentioned above.

You can have a gate (like a doorway or security gate at the airport). On one side of a gate there is an infrared light source (IR LED). On the other end there is a vertical string of IR detectors. The detectors would be, say 1cm apart, but they could be closer together or further, depending on your desired measurement accuracy. When there is no person in a gate, all of the IR detectors see the light from the LED. When there is a person in the gate, some of the detectors at the bottom of the string will be shaded from the light source, and you can determine the height of the person from the number of shaded detectors.

By the way, here’s a link to a specialized group dedicated to sensor, where you can continue discussing this project with me and some real sensor experts. http://tech.groups.yahoo.com/group/sensorforum/

Answer 2

Try walking out of a 7-11 store ... the height is right there.

Or, with different hair and hats I don't think you could get an accurate measurement with the laser unless you have a controlled environment. It may be better to take a digital picture and use software to calculate the height.

Take a look at this 3D body scanner ...

Answer 3

I can only give you a historical answer. When Victorian explorers discovered the Hottentots, an African tribe whose woman had rather large behinds, they were too discreet to physically measure the size of the women's behinds, so someone actually used trignometry.

Answer 4

simplest is most accurate. use a side light and measure the shadow on the wall. this is essential the 7-11 method.