Smart Floor
Team Member: Ying Lu, Yuan Meng
This project aims to improve home safety by enabling real-time detection and response to falls and accidents. Through the integration of MEMS pressure sensors and a companion app, the system allows family members to promptly recognize incidents, pinpoint affected individuals, and take swift action, minimizing the risk of further injury and enhancing overall household security.
Company - BOSCH
BOSCH's advanced smart home technology and commitment to safety make it a strong potential partner for the smart floor project. Its expertise in sensor technology, connectivity, and data analysis aligns well with the smart floor’s detection and alert system. With a continued focus on home safety through products like smoke alarms and security cameras, BOSCH shares the project’s mission, creating valuable collaboration opportunities.
Term Definition
Our project improves home safety by incorporating MEMS pressure sensors, infrared cameras, SPC flooring, microcontrollers, and LED light strips into a smart flooring system. MEMS sensors detect pressure changes to identify falls, while infrared cameras minimize false alarms. The microcontroller processes real-time data, activating alerts and LED indicators for enhanced visibility. This system enables accurate fall detection and quick response, strengthening home security and emergency awareness.
Problem Statement
In the home, family members might face various safety risks, such as accidental falls or unexpected collisions with furniture. When these accidents occur, other family members or relatives aren't always able to quickly become aware and respond appropriately, which might lead to further danger and injury.
How might we enable family members to quickly become aware of and respond to accidents in the home to prevent further danger and injury?
Sketches - Floor
As a person walks, MEMS pressure sensors precisely capture step size and pressure. In the event of a fall, they detect sudden, drastic pressure changes deviating from normal values. These sensors also register slight floor vibrations. By analyzing this data, the system accurately identifies falls and promptly triggers alarms.
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User Test Feedback
" I'm confused about the functions of the two buttons on the detail page, and I might mistake the arrows under the room for a feature to rotate the room, not to switch between rooms. "
" My main concern is whether someone will be there to help if someone falls, not just an emergency call button. It's vital to know that someone will come to assist, as speed dial on a phone isn't enough. "
" Why are the app's settings limited to just vibration intensity? I don't see other options. And speaking of vibration, with so many vibration types, I barely notice any difference. They should really add more practical settings. "
"I'm wondering where I should go if I want to change my reserved phone number or if I want to cancel my account. Perhaps you could add a settings page where I can manage my account details. "
" First off, the family page - it's not just for updating personal info, right? Family members come and go, like my son who's off to boarding school and spends less time at home. He probably doesn't need to get notifications from the app anymore, nor does he need to be on the system. Also, that feature for emergency contact with family seems a bit redundant; I could just use speed dial on my phone. And another thing, I'm always left wondering who exactly has fallen. The app just alerts that someone has fallen, without specifying who. This definitely needs to be addressed in the next update. In short, I think these areas really need some improvement. "
Final Design
