IoT-Based Person/Wheelchair Fall Detection System

This guide will help you create an IoT-Based Fall Detection System using Raspberry Pi. The system will monitor for falls in both individuals and wheelchair users, and alert caregivers or emergency services in real-time if a fall is detected.

Components Required

• Raspberry Pi (Model 3 or later)
• Accelerometer and gyroscope sensor (e.g., MPU6050)
• Relay module (for triggering alarms or notifications)
• Connecting wires and breadboard
• Power supply (for Raspberry Pi and sensors)
• Cloud service account (e.g., AWS IoT, Google Cloud IoT, ThingSpeak)
• Buzzer or alarm (optional, for local alerts)

Setting Up the Hardware

Follow these steps to set up the hardware:

1. Connect the Accelerometer and Gyroscope Sensor

   Install the MPU6050 sensor to detect motion and orientation. Connect the sensor to the Raspberry Pi using GPIO pins or I2C interface.

2. Integrate the Relay Module

   Connect the relay module to the Raspberry Pi. The relay can be used to trigger an alarm or notification if a fall is detected.

3. Power the System

   Ensure the Raspberry Pi and the sensor are properly powered. Verify all connections before powering on the system.

Programming the Raspberry Pi

Write the code to read data from the accelerometer and gyroscope sensor and detect falls. Below is a basic example using Python:

                import smbus
                import time
                import requests

                # Configuration
                MPU6050_ADDR = 0x68
                RELAY_PIN = 23
                CLOUD_URL = "https://api.example.com/update?api_key=YOUR_API_KEY"

                # Setup
                bus = smbus.SMBus(1)
                bus.write_byte_data(MPU6050_ADDR, 0x6B, 0)

                def send_alert():
                    response = requests.get(CLOUD_URL + "&fall_detected=1")
                    print(f"Alert sent to cloud: {response.status_code}")

                def read_acceleration():
                    x = bus.read_word_data(MPU6050_ADDR, 0x3B)
                    y = bus.read_word_data(MPU6050_ADDR, 0x3D)
                    z = bus.read_word_data(MPU6050_ADDR, 0x3F)
                    return x, y, z

                try:
                    while True:
                        x, y, z = read_acceleration()
                        # Basic fall detection logic (example)
                        if abs(x) > 20000 or abs(y) > 20000 or abs(z) > 20000:
                            print("Fall detected!")
                            send_alert()
                            time.sleep(10)  # Wait before next check
                        else:
                            time.sleep(1)  # Check every second

                except KeyboardInterrupt:
                    pass
            

This code reads data from the MPU6050 sensor and checks for significant changes in acceleration, indicating a fall. If a fall is detected, it sends an alert to a cloud service.

Setting Up Cloud Integration

To monitor and receive alerts, integrate your system with a cloud service. Configure the cloud service to receive data from the Raspberry Pi and set up dashboards or notifications based on the data received.

Testing and Calibration

Test the system by simulating falls and verifying that alerts are correctly sent to the cloud. Adjust the sensitivity and code parameters as needed for reliable performance.