Wearable Fall Detection and Prevention Device

Abstract

The development of wireless handheld devices in fall detection using IoT technology plays a vital role in the improvement of healthcare. According to World Health Organization, 28–35% of the population over the age of 64 experience at least one fall every year, while fall-related injuries and hospitalization rates are expected to increase on average by 2% per year until 2030. Morbidity and mortality provoked by falls are closely connected to the rapidness of the medical response and first aid treatment after the incident. Consequently, the analysis of cost-effective and automatic Fall Detection Systems (FDSs) has become a relevant research topic during the last years. This project focuses on a lightweight waist-mounted gadget that monitors the user's activity. These systems typically use acceleration signals to detect sudden changes in movement or orientation, such as an abrupt drop in altitude or a change in the angle of the body. An airbag is developed to protect the individual by automatically inflating the airbag that absorbs the shock of the fall, reducing the impact on the human body, and preventing fractures and other injuries. A Relay board is mounted with the circuit which helps to inflate the airbag. When a fall is detected, the system automatically sends an alert to a caregiver's smartphone or a monitoring center. Also, an alarm is used when a fall event occurs to alert bystanders until the user can sit up or rise up. MEMS Accelerometer is used for rapid fall recognition and the GSM module is employed to send alert notifications. The key characteristics of this fall sensor are the new fall-sensing methodology, which uses a triaxial, single-unit accelerometer and angular velocity sensor to sense the event of a fall and thus this system can provide an added layer of safety and peace of mind for the elderly individuals and their caregivers, helping to ensure that help can be summoned quickly in the event of fall.