Utilising LiDAR for fall detection

Abstract

Autonomous driving generates several low‐cost technologies, such as light detection and ranging (LiDAR). Due to this, the LiDAR technology has experienced impressive performance improvements. Our ambition is to capitalise on this development, where LiDAR is considered as the enabling technology for a non‐invasive monitoring system for securing elder persons in their home. A motivation for technology‐based securing of elder persons is that many countries experience a demographic change. Traditional personal care by care worker or re‐location to special homes of elder persons does not scale due to the shrinking fraction of the working population. Technology can reduce some of the burden. This article proposes and assesses technology for securing a person's home. However, securing a person, based on monitoring, requires careful design because the technology should be non‐invasive, reliable and low cost. LiDAR technology offers several crucial qualities that meet these system requirements. This article provides a proof of concept for a low‐cost, non‐invasive LiDAR‐based monitoring system. Our proposed system can detect if a person has fallen, and it can trigger an alarm to the care services when required. We emphasise especially that our monitoring solution can operate in the bathroom and even in the shower.