RRDetection: Respiration Rate Estimation Using Earbuds During Physical Activities.

Abstract

In modern times, earbuds have become both popular and essential accessories for people to use with a wide range of devices in their everyday lives. Moreover, the respiration rate is a crucial vital sign that is sensitive to various pathological conditions. Many earbuds now come equipped with multiple sensing capabilities, including inertial and acoustic sensors. These sensors can be used by researchers to passively monitor users' vital signs, such as respiration rates. While current earbud-based breath rate estimation algorithms mostly focus on resting conditions, recent studies have demonstrated that respiration rates during physical activities can predict cardio-respiratory fitness for healthy individuals and pulmonary conditions for respiratory patients. To address this gap, we propose a novel algorithm called RRDetection that leverages the motion sensors in ordinary earbuds to detect respiration rates during light to moderate physical activities.