We're making open-source radar infrastructure for scientific data collection and research. Our work spans RF engineering, distributed systems, and peer-reviewed detection methodology.
Offworld Labs is a US-based research project building open-source passive radar infrastructure. Passive radar uses existing broadcast radio for measurements, providing a cost-effective alternative to traditional active radar systems that have transmitters. We combine off-the-shelf RF hardware, crowdsourced deployment, and institutional peer-review. The goal is to make open, rigorous data freely available.
Every node is a general-purpose passive radar sensor. The same hardware and data pipeline serves research communities across atmospheric science, ecology, remote sensing, and aircraft detection.
Detect meteor-trail reflections of FM broadcasts, characterizing shower flux rates, radiant positions, and orbital parameters, and integrate these into existing fireball recording networks.
Literature ↗Continuously map how FM signals propagate through the atmosphere, providing real-time data on solar storm effects that are valuable to satellite operators, launch providers, and GPS services.
Literature ↗Migrating flocks produce distinctive low-altitude radar returns that the network can capture seasonally across major flyways, giving ecologists and ornithologists a persistent monitoring layer that no existing infrastructure provides.
Literature ↗Ground-based synthetic aperture radar (GB-SAR) can map terrain, ice sheets, and surface water. Radar can also monitor weather systems, soil moisture, and freeze-thaw cycles.
Literature ↗Monitor commercial and private aircraft, and increasingly drones and UAP. Every detection includes a radar track, velocity profile, and SNR, cross-referenced against flight transponder data and atmospheric conditions.
Literature ↗Radio Echo Tracking by Inter-Node Analysis. A distributed passive radar network that repurposes ambient FM and DTV broadcast signals as illuminators of opportunity, detecting aerial objects up to 35 miles away without emitting any RF signal. No transmitter. No FCC license. All data open.
Nodes cross-correlate detections across geography to passively geolocate objects. Planes with ADS-B transponder data act as continual calibration targets and validate radar tracks. Data is logged with cryptographically signed chain-of-custody records for scientific review.
Launched the RETINA project in 2025, leading hardware specification, software architecture, fundraising and distribution/outreach. Previously engineering director at Bunty LLC and nuclear engineer at Marathon Fusion.
↗ jehanazadBased in London, previously working on integrations and automations at an event-tech startup. Builds the server-side detection aggregation pipeline, API layer, and data storage architecture for RETINA.
↗ BabissimoBased in Bath, with a background in FPGA firmware, signal processing, machine learning, and quantitative development. Leads hardware design and signal chain work for RETINA nodes.
↗ Purple10101Based in Springfield, Massachusetts, with 10+ years in renewable energy, designing and shipping electric vehicle components, charge systems, batteries, inverters, and companion apps. Brings leadership, design, and project management experience to RETINA's hardware.
↗ jfremermanBased in London, with full-stack and infrastructure experience at startups, not-for-profits and Big Tech. Looks after software development on both server-side and on RETINA nodes.
↗ jonnyspicerGrant from the Mercatus Center at George Mason University, supporting high-impact, unconventional research and entrepreneurship.
Amateur Radio Digital Communications Foundation, supporting the use of amateur radio spectrum and technology in the public interest.
Nonprofit foundation supporting bold, high-impact science and technology projects that advance the public good.
For node deployment inquiries, research partnerships, press, or institutional collaboration.