A handheld camera that can see through walls—one that purportedly achieves millimeter-level precision using radio waves—sounds like something from a military R&D lab. Instead, it's the flagship product from Applied Electrodynamics, a startup staffed by former Apple and Nest engineers that opened preorders last month for a device called WaveSight.
The pitch targets a stubborn and expensive construction industry problem: the blind installations that lead to costly rework. Applied Electrodynamics points to industry estimates suggesting avoidable rework drains billions annually from U.S. construction budgets—figures that vary widely by source and project type, with estimates ranging from $2 billion to $20 billion depending on definitions used. A Common Ground Alliance report from August modeled 2025 incidents and put the annual economic toll of underground utility damage at $83.2 billion when accounting for project delays, legal entanglements, and ripple effects beyond direct repair costs.
Whether WaveSight can deliver on its technical promises remains an open question. The company has declined to disclose pricing, ship dates, or detailed specifications beyond what appeared in its Y Combinator debut. Independent benchmarks comparing the device to established radar systems haven't surfaced, and Applied Electrodynamics did not respond to requests for comment about customer pilots or validation testing.
Pedigree and Patents
The founding team brings serious credentials. Bilgehan Avser, who holds a doctorate in electromagnetics, led iPhone antenna development at Apple—including ultra-wideband and 5G millimeter-wave systems—before moving to Humane. Brian Huppi built the earliest iPhone prototypes and co-invented both the device's multitouch interface and the Nest Learning Thermostat. George McLean, an MIT-trained physicist, previously developed X-ray imagers and retinal implants. Paul Leutheuser, also an Apple and Humane alum, co-invented the haptic Touch ID system. Collectively, the four hold more than 250 patents.
The device itself, according to launch materials, works "just like a camera, requiring no training." It generates point clouds with claimed one-millimeter accuracy and can image through sheetrock, tile, marble, brick, insulation, and various composite materials. Applied Electrodynamics processes radar data on-device, though details about the underlying sensor architecture or signal-processing algorithms haven't been made public.
A Market Already Scanning
WaveSight isn't entering virgin territory. Reality capture tools have become standard practice in construction—a July survey from BuiltWorlds found nearly 58 percent of construction organizations incorporate such technology into most or all projects. A 2025 study published in Frontiers reported that as of 2023, three-quarters of respondents employed building information modeling (BIM) and 71 percent used drones, LiDAR, or other reality capture systems—though those adoption figures reflect the landscape two years ago.
But those tools capture what's visible. Once drywall goes up or concrete sets, contractors turn to ground-penetrating radar and electromagnetic scanners to verify what lies beneath. The existing market is crowded. Screening Eagle sells the Proceq GP8000 series of handheld ground-penetrating radar systems with 3D visualization. Leica Geosystems offers the C-Thru concrete scanner with augmented reality overlays. GSSI, Hilti, and Bosch all manufacture professional-grade radar-based wall scanners.
Consumer and prosumer options have emerged as well: Walabot DIY 2 from Vayyar and Resolv's InSite Pro, which launched domestically with international rollout planned for later. Defense and emergency response applications lean on Camero-Tech's Xaver product line.
Market projections vary somewhat. A Research and Markets report from August estimated the ground-penetrating radar market would grow from $653.5 million in 2024 to $1.1 billion by 2030, an 8.7 percent compound annual growth rate. A separate MarketsandMarkets analysis put the 2026 market at $530 million, climbing to $920 million by 2032.
How much rework these tools actually prevent is harder to pin down. An ASCE technical note published in January found that rework averaged 0.38 percent of contract value in one contractor dataset, with the author noting that prior literature often inflated estimates through inconsistent definitions.
Regulatory Tightrope
Through-wall imaging systems occupy legally tricky ground. Federal regulations restrict devices explicitly marketed for "through-wall imaging" to law enforcement, emergency rescue, or firefighting organizations. Commercial imaging devices typically operate under lower-power ultra-wideband rules with tighter emissions constraints—and devices certified for indoor use cannot intentionally direct emissions outside buildings.
Privacy implications trail close behind. The Supreme Court's 2001 ruling in Kyllo v. United States held that deploying technology "not in general public use" to explore details inside a home constitutes a search requiring a warrant. A 2014 Tenth Circuit case warned of "grave Fourth Amendment questions" around Doppler radar detecting movement inside homes, though both rulings addressed law enforcement rather than commercial use on private property.
An FCC staff memo circulated in September noted that prior ultra-wideband limits were "very conservative" and floated the possibility of band-specific adjustments, though no rulemaking timeline was specified.
Physical Limitations
Even the most sophisticated radar systems bump against physics. A Department of Homeland Security review from May examining through-wall life-detection devices noted that metal foil and certain wall compositions can block or reflect radio energy entirely—fundamental constraints that apply to any radio-frequency imaging system.
Applied Electrodynamics hasn't published data on penetration depth, standoff distance, scan time, or material-specific accuracy. The company's website lists preorder availability but offers no specifications beyond the Y Combinator launch claims.
Adoption Signals
Still, construction's appetite for digital tools is undeniable. A July study from Dodge Construction Network and DEWALT found 82 percent of mechanical contractors now consider digital fabrication capability essential for winning contracts. McKinsey estimated global construction output hit roughly $15 trillion in 2025, with AI and automation potentially unlocking $228 billion in annual U.S. value by 2030.
According to its Y Combinator profile, Applied Electrodynamics is seeking introductions to general contractors, industrial inspection teams, and U.S. defense organizations. Whether those conversations yield paying customers—and whether WaveSight's performance holds up in field conditions—will determine if the startup's vision of millimeter-accurate wall penetration moves from preorder page to job site reality.
