Elderly Guardian – Project Challenge Progress Update

This week, I’ve caught myself coming up with overly complex solutions for device connectivity problems. I’ve had to step back and reframe my approach several times, staying true to the KISS principle: Keep It Simple, Stupid. My focus remains on building something practical, reliable, and quick to deploy.

The Metis board’s operating system only includes built-in drivers for certain Realtek chipsets. The TP-Link plug I originally considered wasn’t the issue, it’s that the Wi-Fi dongle I first tried used a chipset without native driver support, meaning I would have had to manually compile and install a driver before I could even get online. For a hackathon project, that extra setup time wasn’t worth it.

The Edimax EW-7822UAC Wi-Fi Adapter uses a supported chipset, making it far closer to plug-and-play on the Metis system. Paired with a USB hub to solve the limited port problem, it let me get connected quickly and focus on building the actual fall detection and Alexa integration instead of spending hours wrestling with network drivers.

I initially looked at using the Sonoff switch for device control, but it required hardwiring and additional setup steps to get it on the network. That’s fine for a permanent installation, but for a hackathon MVP, I needed something that could be up and running in minutes. The Kasa Smart Plug offered exactly that - an easy Wi-Fi setup, direct Alexa integration, and no wiring required. It let me focus on the core problem (fall detection and automated voice prompts) rather than spending time on hardware installation.

The Voyager SDK has proven to be straightforward and powerful, making inference setup and deployment quick. The Kasa plug + Alexa routine method gives immediate voice-enabled safety checks after a fall is detected, all without reinventing the wheel. The system’s modular design also leaves room for easy expansion later.

Next Steps

• Refine fall detection accuracy using real-world video data.

• Optimize the system for even faster response times.

The aim is a solution that anyone can set up, not just engineers, and if it helps even one person get timely assistance after a fall, it’s a success.