Intelligent IoT-enabled Ankle Brace: Enhancing Mobility and Safety

This research focuses on the development of a footworn device to assist individuals with limited mobility in walking. The device aims to reduce the risk of accidents by closely monitoring the wearer's movements and detecting potential hazards. It incorporates sensors, including the MPU6050 gyro sensor and KY-031 vibration sensor, to track the wearer's walking behavior. In case of abnormalities, such as falls, the device triggers an auditory alert and notifies the caregiver via LINE Notify. The system is controlled by the Node MCU ESP8266, enabling seamless integration with the Internet of Things (IoT). The objective of this study is to design an IoT system for medical assistance. The researchers created a prototype of a smart ankle device capable of detecting falls and sending notifications to the user's smartphone. The effectiveness of the notification system was evaluated using the Line Notify application. Results demonstrated a successful detection of falls in 48 out of 50 trials, with two instances of false alarms during normal walking. The overall efficiency of the smart ankle device was 98%. In summary, the proposed smart ankle device demonstrates promising potential for various applications in fall detection and safety alert systems. Further improvements and collaborations with healthcare experts are recommended to enhance its performance and make it commercially viable. The device's connectivity and responsiveness to IoT systems are vital aspects to be considered. Future research should aim to develop additional features in collaboration with physiotherapists and healthcare professionals to meet user requirements. The device holds significant benefits in terms of fall detection and safety alerts, and efforts should be made to enhance its durability, robustness, and commercialization prospects.