Dynamic Fall Detection and Pace Measurement in Walking Sticks

Falls are increasingly among the leading causes of elderly injuries and deaths each year. Several of these victims depend on a walking stick or cane for support while walking. Rendering aid more quickly to those who fall may decrease the severity of injury in several cases. In this paper, we propose a dynamic fall detection system embedded into walking sticks and canes. By using a gyroscope chip to measure angular velocity of the stick, we can detect when a user may have fallen. Also monitored by the detection system is the user´s walking pace, such that the user will be warned when traveling at paces above his or her normal speed. With different polling frequency levels to preserve energy, we present a low-power device that can potentially improve safety among the elderly.