SBIR Phase I: Contact-free RF-based tracking and fall sensor for aging-in-place

这项小型企业创新研究（SBIR）第一阶段项目将开发一种革命性的新型传感器，用于就地养老和辅助生活，该传感器使用射频（RF）收发器网络作为家中的传感器来跟踪人？S定位和检测跌倒。这种传感器是非接触式的，也就是说，一个人不需要记得戴上它就可以被监控。该系统监测链路信号强度的变化，这表明有人在两个收发器之间的线路附近。算法使用链接信息来推断一个人的位置。在两个不同高度的收发器上，算法可以区分一个人是站着、坐着还是躺在地板上，并利用一个人移动到地板上的速度来检测危险的摔倒。房间级别的跟踪也可以用来寻找身体或认知能力下降的不寻常模式。该项目将开发最小化部署时间和专业知识的方法。它将开发新的算法，允许系统中较低密度的收发器，并仍然实现房间级跟踪和跌倒检测精度。将对潜在投资者和客户进行现场演示。该项目的更广泛的影响/商业潜力是传感器能够提高老年人在他们喜欢的生活环境中安全养老的能力，使他们受益并降低养老院护理的成本。不幸的是，每年都有许多老年人跌倒，往往是独自一人跌倒，导致救援延误很长时间才到来。害怕跌倒和无法得到帮助是许多人进入护理的一个原因。有认知能力下降风险（如痴呆）的老年人可以通过传感系统独立生活更长时间，帮助护理人员监测他们的健康状况。除了就地老化，这些技术在医院也有应用；自动化和节能的智能建筑系统；安全系统;零售分析;通常用于上下文和位置感知计算应用程序。现有的技术使用(1)可穿戴传感器，这经常被遗忘；(2)视频摄像头监控，这被认为过于侵犯隐私；(3)红外运动传感器，它不能检测到跌倒，容易产生假警报。相比之下，所提出的传感器不需要佩戴，可靠地感知跌倒，并且保护隐私。我们的传感器提供了目前不可用的功能，将被老化监测和系统集成商公司购买。

This Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) Phase I project will develop a revolutionary new sensor for aging-in-place and assisted living which uses a network of radio frequency (RF) transceivers as a sensor in a home to track a person?s location and detect falls. The sensor is contact-free, i.e., a person does not need to remember to wear it in order to be monitored. The system monitors links for changes in signal strength which indicate a person being near the line between two transceivers. Algorithms use the link information to infer the location of a person. With transceivers at two different heights, algorithms can distinguish whether a person is standing, sitting, or laying on the floor, and use the speed at which someone moves to the floor to detect a dangerous fall. Room-level tracking can also be used to look for unusual patterns which indicate physical or cognitive decline. This project will develop methods to minimize deployment time and expertise. It will develop novel algorithms that allow for a lower density of transceivers in the system, and still achieve room-level tracking and fall detection accuracy. Live demonstrations will be conducted with potential investors and customers.The broader impact/commercial potential of this project is the ability for the sensor to increase the ability of an elder to safely age-in-place in their preferred living environment, benefitting them and reducing the costs of nursing home care. Unfortunately, many older people fall each year, often when alone, resulting in long delays before help arrives. The fear of falling and being unable to get help is a reason many enter nursing care. Older adults at risk for cognitive decline (e.g., dementia) could live independently longer with sensing systems that help caregivers monitor their well-being. Beyond aging-in-place, these technologies have application in hospitals; smart-building systems for automation and energy efficiency; security systems; retail analytics; and generally for context- and location-aware computing applications. Existing technologies use (1) wearable sensors, which are often forgotten, (2) video camera surveillance, which is seen as too invasive of privacy, or (3) infrared motion sensors, which do not detect falls and are prone to false alarms. In contrast, the proposed sensor does not need to be worn, reliably senses falls, and is privacy-preserving. Our sensor provides capabilities currently unavailable, and will be bought by aging-in-place monitoring and system integrator companies.