Fall detection using the triboelectric effect

A method for detecting when a person falls, comprising:

• deploying a triboelectric sensor relative to a portion of the person's body, wherein the triboelectric sensor includes at least one electrode that defines a surface;
• detecting, by readout circuitry that is operably coupled with the triboelectric sensor, charge at the at least one electrode caused by physical contact between the surface of the at least one electrode and at least one other surface;
• receiving, by logic operably coupled with the readout circuitry, a first signal indicative of the detected charge at the at least one electrode;
• and
• based at least in part on the first signal, providing, by the logic, output that is indicative of a detected fall of the person.

A fall detection system comprising:

• a triboelectric sensor that is securable to a portion of a person's body or is affixed to clothing worn by the person, wherein the triboelectric sensor includes at least one electrode that defines a surface;
• readout circuitry that detects charge at the at least one electrode caused by physical contact between the surface of the at least one electrode and at least one other surface, wherein the other surface includes one or more of the person's skin or a ground surface;
• one or more output components;
• and
• logic that receives, from the readout circuitry, a first signal indicative of the detected charge at the at least one electrode and, based at least in part on the first signal, provides, at one or more of the output components, output indicative of a detected fall.