ENGR 103 - Spring 2013 Freshman Engineering Design Lab Fall Alert System For The Elderly Project

Design Proposal
Date Submitted: April 09, 2013 Section 083 Group 3

Submitted to: Group Members:

Ryszard Lec , rml34@drexel.edu Ravi Shah, rs895@drexel.edu Alekhya Mangalampalli, am3565@drexel.edu James Kirwan, jak372@drexel.edu Jasmine Mavani, jjm458@drexel.edu Chad Mehmel, cpm66@drexel.edu

Abstract: Emergency life alert systems for the elderly already exist; however, the existing products require that the user physically push a button in case of an emergency. The problem with a device with a button is that if the user were to be rendered unconscious before they could press the button, no help would arrive resulting in possible death. The goal of this project will be to design and build a wearable accelerometer that can detect a person falling and alert the authorities automatically. The device will employ an accelerometer that will sense when a person is falling or has fallen. The sensor will need to differentiate between accidental input such as drops and other sudden movements and actual accidents. This will be accomplished by having an accidental input button on the accelerometer and various parameters in the code that alert the emergency center. Once acceleration consistent with a fall is detected, the device will wait a period of time to ensure that it was not an accident. If it was not, the owner will push the button to signal the device that it is not an emergency. If no button press is detected, the device will automatically place a call to the help center. It will link over Bluetooth to a mobile phone in order to call the authorities. For this prototype it will link to a computer and send an email. In theory this will keep the operating cost of the device low. Therefore, the parts required for this project will be an accelerometer, an Arduino, a casing (most likely 3D printed), an SD card shield, and a Bluetooth radio shield.

ENGR-103 Freshman Design Proposal

Section 083, Group 03

Introduction

The motivation for this project is to improve on the already existing technologies that help the elderly in the case of an accident. These technologies are not automated and fail if the user is unable to perform an action signaling to the device that help is needed. The goal of this project will be to create a device that automatically detects a fall and alerts the authorities if assistance is needed. This project will help teach the uses of accelerometers and programming accelerometers. In addition some sort of signal processing will be needed to differentiate accidents. Technical challenges that may be faced will be developing an algorithm that can differentiate between accidental falls and actual emergencies. In addition making the accelerometer, controller, and mobile phone communicate reliably may pose a challenge. Finally, an enclosure will need to be made that can protect the device from falls.

Deliverables

The intended deliverables for this project will be a working prototype of the device. The device will be a wearable necklace that will detect and differentiate between accidental and true falls. It will include the necessary code and algorithms (Arduino IDE) to tell the difference between an emergency situation and accidental input. Simulation and test results will be included as a consequence of the design process. Technical drawings and models (Creo and AutoCAD) used in the designing of the project will be included as well.

3 3.1

Technical Activities Programming

The group members will need to write a program that detects the change in acceleration consistent with a fall. In addition it will need to have a timer built in that waits for user confirmation that the fall is not an emergency. If it is an emergency the program will link to the mobile phone and call the authorities. The code will need to be written to ignore accidental accelerations. These algorithms will be revised after experimental testing. 3.2 Mechanical and Electrical Design

ENGR-103 Freshman Design Proposal

Section 083, Group 03

The group will be responsible with designing and creating an appropriate casing for the necklace. It will need to be able to withstand impact without breaking as well as protect the sensor and controller inside. In addition the necessary circuitry to link all the components together will need to be designed and implemented. The casing for the necklace will need to be modeled on Creo and 3D printed. 3.2.1 Mobile Device Integration The group will need to make the necklace connect to a mobile phone and call the appropriate authorities. 3.2 Mathematical Modeling

Arguably the most important part of this lab, the group will need to come up with a way to mathematically model accelerations experienced during a fall. This will allow the group to look for specific patterns in the signals outputted by the accelerometer.

Project Timeline

Week Task Literature study/ Research/ Mathematical Modelling Mechanical design/ Electrical design Programming System integration/ Construction Testing Final report preparation Table 1: Project Timeline 1 x 2 x x 3 x x x 4 x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x 5 x 6 x 7 x 8 x 9 10

Facilities and Resources

The major resource that will be used for this project will be an accelerometer. This will be provided by the engineering design lab. In addition, an Arduino will be needed to interface with the accelerometer. The casing for the project will be 3D printed on the 3D printers at Drexel University. Any additional tooling will be done on campus at Drexel University. Research and 2

ENGR-103 Freshman Design Proposal

Section 083, Group 03

testing will be done on the stairwells in and around campus. Each group member owns a computer that can be used for data entry, simulations, and programming. Mobile phones necessary for the project are also owned by group members.

Expertise

Group members for this project already have experiences coding and working with accelerometers. Every member has worked with MATLAB and used it to program an accelerometer. All group members have experience using 3D modeling programs such as Creo Parametric to create models. In addition, some group members are proficient in other programming languages. Other group members have previous experience in designing and mechanical engineering. A member of this group has knowledge of basic circuit theory. In addition, most of the members have experience using power tools and machine shop equipment. Group members will build more advanced skills in programming, testing methods, and engineering design.

Budget

Category Accelerometer Arduino UNO Machine Shop/ 3D printer Bluetooth Shield SDcard Shield Assorted Electrical Parts Total

Projected Cost $10 $30 Provided $30 $15 $5 $90

Table 2: Budget

ENGR-103 Freshman Design Proposal 7.1 Accelerometer

Section 083, Group 03

A device that measures acceleration. This will be used to detect when the user falls. 7.2 Microcontroller

This will interface between the accelerometer and the computer and mobile phone. The microcontroller used for this project will be an Arudino UNO. It will be programmed using Arduino IDE. 7.3 Machine Shop/ 3D Printer

This will be used to build the casing and any other miscellaneous parts for the project. 7.4 Bluetooth Shield

Arduino Bluetooth shield that will be used to communicate with a computer to contact emergency responders. 7.5 SDcard Shield

Arduino SDcard shield that will be used to record data. 7.6 Assorted Electrical Parts

Battery, wires, and adapters needed to power the project.