Introduction

The invention proposed refers to a system allowing both to detect and track people in indoor environments, and to establish whether a person is standing, sitting, or fallen, with a precision of few centimeters. It comprise of a software and a modified Radio Frequency (RF) reader with no need for anchor nodes. Thus, the system enables seamless monitoring of elderly/non self-sufficient people in indoor environments.

Technical features

The patented device is a new RF reader (2.45 GHz), remotely connected to a Ambient Assisted Living  (AAL) platform, that can be embedded in everyday objects, present in the ambient to be monitored (e.g.wall applique).  The reader is augmented by RFID technology, in order to be able to track and locate in 3D objects and/or people wearing a RFID tag.

The reader deploys a four-element antenna system augmented by a mono-pulse radar, to localize the tag in azimuth and elevation planes. This allows to track the person who “wears” the tag inside the room, while simultaneously providing information regarding the height at which the RFID tag is located.

Possible Applications

• Home, hospitals or dwellings;
• Continuous monitoring of elderly or non self-sufficient people.

Advantages

• Ease of use of the device and ease of initial calibration;
• Proper intervention made possible almost in real-time;
• No privacy issues and higher patients adherence to be monitored;
• Savings for healthcare due to the lower need for personal assistance.