A novel approach to enhanced fall detection using STFT and magnitude features with CNN autoencoder

The ability to accurately detect and classify falls is critical for ensuring timely medical intervention, especially for the elderly, who face a significantly higher risk of severe injuries, loss of independence, or fatal outcomes from falls. This paper introduces a novel fall detection approach that addresses these urgent needs by using short-time Fourier transform (STFT) images and the magnitude of quaternion (MQ) signals, fused into STFT-MQ images. The proposed method leverages STFT’s time–frequency representation to capture rapid changes and dynamic characteristics in human motion data from wearable sensors, enhancing its ability to distinguish between fall and non-fall incidents. Utilizing a convolutional neural network autoencoder (CNN-AE), an unsupervised learning model, this approach analyzes transformed data without extensive labeled datasets, offering a scalable solution in diverse settings. Tested on the HIFD dataset with heart rate and IMU sensor data, the STFT-MQ-AE method achieves remarkable sensitivity of 98.08%, specificity of 98.78%, and an overall accuracy of 98.57%, setting a new benchmark in fall detection accuracy. Furthermore, the model’s reliance on an N-way K-shot learning approach enables it to manage unforeseen fall cases effectively without retraining, enhancing adaptability and real-world utility. The model achieves the highest Youden’s index (YI) of 96.85%, underlining balanced performance between fall and non-fall classification. Consistent performance across varied training scenarios yields an average accuracy of 96.10%, making this approach highly reliable. This advancement in fall detection technology offers a practical, effective solution to reduce fall-related injuries and enable timely assistance, thereby promoting safer, more independent living for at-risk populations.