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

这个小型企业创新研究(SBIR)第一阶段项目将开发一种革命性的新型传感器，用于就地老龄化和辅助生活，它使用射频收发器网络作为家中的传感器，跟踪一个人？S的位置并检测跌倒。传感器是非接触式的，也就是说，一个人不需要记住佩戴它就可以被监控。该系统监测链路上信号强度的变化，这表明有人在两个收发信机之间的线路附近。算法使用链接信息来推断一个人的位置。利用位于两个不同高度的收发器，算法可以区分一个人是站着的、坐着的还是躺在地板上的，并使用某人移动到地板上的速度来检测危险的跌倒。房间级别的跟踪也可以用来寻找表明身体或认知能力下降的不寻常模式。该项目将开发将部署时间和专业知识降至最低的方法。它将开发新的算法，允许系统中较低密度的收发器，并仍然实现房间级的跟踪和坠落检测精度。将与潜在的投资者和客户进行现场演示。该项目更广泛的影响/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就地养老的能力，使他们受益，并降低养老院护理的成本。不幸的是，许多老年人每年都会摔倒，通常是在独自一人的时候，导致在救援到达之前拖延了很长时间。对摔倒和无法得到帮助的恐惧是许多人进入护理行业的一个原因。有认知衰退风险的老年人(例如痴呆症)可以独立生活更长时间，因为有传感系统帮助照顾者监测他们的健康状况。除了就地老龄化，这些技术还应用于医院、自动化和能源效率的智能建筑系统、安全系统、零售分析，以及一般的环境和位置感知计算应用。现有技术使用(1)经常被遗忘的可穿戴传感器，(2)被视为过于侵犯隐私的摄像机监控，或(3)红外运动传感器，它不能检测跌倒，容易产生错误警报。相比之下，建议的传感器不需要佩戴，可以可靠地感知跌落，并保护隐私。我们的传感器提供了目前无法提供的功能，将被老化现场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.