Apple's iPhone now works with the Walabot, an app and a handy DIY (do-it-yourself) tool for home improvement projects. More specifically, Walabot, as the name implies, is about working with walls, such as putting up shelves, hanging a painting, or attaching a wall mount for a television. In order to do so safely, and with long-lasting durability, it's important to find the strongest part of the wall.
Apple has been increasing the number of sensors it places in the iPhone in recent years. The iPhone X introduced Face ID which is powered by a TrueDepth Camera so it can't be tricked by a photograph. The iPhone 11 brought the U1 chip and ultra-wideband communication abilities that enable Precision Finding of an AirTag. The iPhone 12 Pro and Pro Max were the first smartphones to feature LiDAR, which uses laser projection and sensing to calculate time-of-flight and measure the distance to nearby objects.
Even with all of these sensors, an iPhone can't see through walls without a little help. That's where Walabot comes in. It's an iPhone accessory that has a companion app in the App Store. The Walabot device uses radio signals with antennas tuned to various frequencies to scan behind the surface of walls. That signal is converted into a visual display on the iPhone that allows the user to 'see' through walls, revealing the ideal locations to attach wall mounts, shelves, and other heavy items. The connection to the iPhone is via Wi-Fi, so the Walabot doesn't have to be kept close to the iPhone to work.
The Walabot can identify studs, the structural wooden portion of a wall that provides strength and is the ideal location to secure a wall-mounted TV. Going beyond the capabilities of a simple stud-finder, which uses magnets to find nails, the Walabot's radio signals can accurately display the size, shape, and location of studs, allowing a screw or nail to be placed in the center, rather than risking a weak attachment near the edge. The maximum detection range is four inches and is designed for drywall. Other wall types might not work as well or scan to a lesser depth. Walabot also works with Android phones and has an app in the Google Play Store.
Pipes and wires are also detected by the Walabot and will be shown on the iPhone's screen via the Walabot app. The Walabot can even detect moving objects, potentially revealing any critters that might be inside the walls. The Walabot is a versatile tool for all sorts of home improvement projects. That makes its $160 price a very affordable option for any homeowners with an iPhone and a need to see what's behind the walls.
Source: Walabot, Apple App Store
