A wearable fall detection system based on LoRa LPWAN technology

Abstract

—Several technological solutions now available in the market offer the possibility of increasing the independent life of people who by age or pathologies otherwise need assistance. In particular, internet-connected wearable solutions are of considerable interest, as they allow continuous monitoring of the user. However, their use poses different challenges, from the real usability of a device that must still be worn to the performance achievable in terms of radio connectivity and battery life. The acceptability of a technology solution, by a user who would still benefit from its use, is in fact often conditioned by practical problems that impact the person’s normal lifestyle. The technological choices adopted in fact strongly determine the success of the proposed solution, as they may imply limitations both to the person who uses it and to the achievable performance. In this document, targeting the case of a fall detection sensor based on a pair of sensorized shoes, the effectiveness of a real implementation of an Internet of Things technology is examined. It is shown how alarming events, generated in a metropolitan context, are effectively sent to a supervision system through Low Power Wide Area Network technology without the need for a portable gateway. The experimental results demonstrate the effectiveness of the chosen technology, which allows the user to take advantage of the support of a wearable sensor without being forced to substantially change his lifestyle.