A wearable airbag to prevent fall injuries

IEEE Trans Inf Technol Biomed. 2009 Nov;13(6):910-4. doi: 10.1109/TITB.2009.2033673. Epub 2009 Oct 20.

Abstract

We have developed a wearable airbag that incorporates a fall-detection system that uses both acceleration and angular velocity signals to trigger inflation of the airbag. The fall-detection algorithm was devised using a thresholding technique with an accelerometer and gyro sensor. Sixteen subjects mimicked falls, and their acceleration waveforms were monitored. Then, we developed a fall-detection algorithm that could detect signals 300 ms before the fall. This signal was used as a trigger to inflate the airbag to a capacity of 2.4 L. Although the proposed system can help to prevent fall-related injuries, further development is needed to miniaturize the inflation system.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Acceleration
  • Accidental Falls*
  • Adolescent
  • Adult
  • Air Bags*
  • Algorithms
  • Clothing*
  • Equipment Design
  • Humans
  • Monitoring, Ambulatory / instrumentation*
  • Wounds and Injuries / prevention & control*