Algorithm allows cameras to see around corners

Researchers develop an algorithm to reconstruct an object blocked from view

Spotted: Researchers at Boston University have developed an algorithm that allows an ordinary digital camera to use reflected light to “see” around corners and obstacles. The algorithm uses light given off by a hidden object as it bounces off whatever is obstructing the view of that object. The algorithm first reconstructs the obstacle from its shadow, then reconstructs the hidden image behind that obstacle, using the patterns of the light. According to the researchers, the reconstruction will work even if the obstruction is a wall. The work is published in the January 2019 edition of Nature.