WeMos IoT Controller-Based Low-Cost Fall Detection System for Elderly Users

Abstract

Fall detection systems for the elderly are very important to protect this type of users. The early detection of the fall of the elderly has a major impact on saving their lives and avoiding the deterioration of the negative medical effects resulting from the effect of the patient falling on a hard surface. One of the constraints in fall detection systems are false-negative errors (no fall detection) or false-positive errors (sending a false warning without real fall accident). These errors have to be reduced significantly. In this paper, an innovative method to reduce fall detection system errors is proposed. The system consists of two orientation detection sensors to track the body orientation instead of using a single sensor in the previous systems which enhances the system accuracy and reduces the false-negative and false-positive errors. The system uses a small size IoT-based controller to process the sensor's information and make the alarm decision based on specific thresholds. The output alarm of the system includes an email sent to the caregivers via the embedded Wi-Fi ESP8266 module as well as an SMS message to the caregivers’ phones via GSM modules to ensure that the alarm message arrives in the absence of internet coverage for the patient or the caregiver. The system is powered by a small lithium-Ion battery. All sensors and modules of the system are combined in a small rubber box that can be fixed in a waist belt or the chest rejoin of the user body. Several tests have been made in different procedures. The tests revealed that the new approach improves the accuracy of the system and reduces the possibility of triggering wrong alarms.