Fall detection for the elderly

The problem

Falls are the most common cause of serious injuries in the elderly, and the biggest danger isn't the fall itself but lying on the floor for hours without anyone knowing — someone who lives alone may not be able to reach the phone after falling. The system cuts the time between the fall and the family finding out from hours to seconds.

How it works

1. MonitoringThe accelerometer and gyroscope unit reads the body's motion dozens of times per second.
2. AnalysisThe controller calculates the resultant acceleration and compares it with the known fall pattern.
3. ConfirmationA fall is defined by three phases together: sudden free fall, then impact, then stillness.
4. Cancel windowThe buzzer sounds and gives the user five seconds to press the cancel button if it's a false alarm.
5. AlertsIf the button isn't pressed, an instant alert is sent to the user's family over Wi-Fi.

Project features

• It addresses a clear human problem that's instantly understood, with nothing to explain to the committee.
• The cancel button is a smart detail that shows false alarms were considered.
• An easy live demo: drop the device on a pillow and watch the alert go out.
• It combines motion-signal analysis, IoT, and wearable design.
• It can be extended with machine learning to tell a fall from suddenly sitting down.

Expected challenges

These are the main obstacles to expect during the build, laid out clearly so you know them before you start.

• Telling a fall from sitting down quickly or throwing the device is the hardest part of the project.
• Setting the acceleration threshold: too high misses falls, too low causes false alarms.
• Battery use in a device that must work around the clock while worn.
• Size and weight: the user won't wear a bulky device.
• Wi-Fi coverage at home, since a fall may happen in a weak-signal area.

The consultation gives you a solution for each one.

Expected committee questions

Prepare your answers in advance: these questions come up often in defenses of similar projects.

1. How does the system tell a fall from sitting down quickly or moving the hand hard?
2. Why was a five-second cancel window chosen?
3. What rate of false alarms appeared in testing?
4. How long does the battery last, and how was power use reduced?

Practice the defense, question by question