↓Skip to main content

iFallen

·2 mins
Table of Contents

Role: Software Team Lead

Project Overview #

My team of seven and I were tasked with identifying a problem and designing an innovative solution.

Learning Objectives #

  • Develop a solution tailored to a specific problem.
  • Grasp the fundamentals of design and engineering.

Inspiration #

Concern for my grandmother’s safety when home alone inspired the concept. This concern extended to our team’s focus on creating a device to aid anyone at risk of falling.

What It Does #

The iFallen device is built around a microcontroller and an accelerometer. It detects falls using a highly customizable threshold approach. If a fall is detected, a text message is sent to a designated contact after a short delay. The device includes a button that can cancel the alert if the user is unharmed.

Development Process #

We divided our team into four specialized groups:

  1. Management Team: Kept the project on schedule and managed component procurement.
  2. Presentation Team: Prepared and delivered presentations throughout the semester.
  3. Software Team: Focused on programming and developing the fall detection algorithm.
  4. Design & Modeling Team: Responsible for the device’s exterior design and housing.

My Contributions #

  • Software Development: Led the software team in programming the microcontroller using Python. Developed the fall detection algorithm and designed the device’s logic.
  • Hardware Design: Designed and soldered the circuit.
  • Team Collaboration: Worked closely with my team to ensure integration of ideas across all groups, enhancing the final product.

Key Learnings #

This project honed my teamwork skills, particularly in resolving differences with teammates to find the best solutions. Collaborative problem-solving not only improved our project outcomes but also boosted team morale and excitement.

↑