Fall-into-Water Detection Using Weight and Water Sensors

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing fall-into-water accident determination systems struggle to accurately differentiate between a person being exposed to water on a vessel and actually falling into the water, leading to potential misclassification of accidents.

Innovation Solution

A system comprising a weight detector attached to the occupant's foot and a water detector, which determine if a fall-into-water accident has occurred by detecting changes in weight and immersion in water, respectively, to accurately distinguish between exposure to water and actual falls.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If a submersion sensor is used to detect water contact, then water accident detection capability is improved, but false alarms occur when the transmitter is exposed to water on the vessel

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvewater accident detection accuracyVSAvoiddistinction between water exposure and fall into water

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSMeasurement precision

Solution Approach 1:

The detection function is segmented into two independent sensors: a submersion sensor that detects water contact, and a weight sensor that detects weight changes. By dividing the detection task into separate functional components, the system can distinguish between water exposure (submersion sensor active, weight sensor inactive) and falls into water (both sensors active), thereby resolving the false alarm problem while maintaining high detection accuracy

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The weight sensor acts as an intermediary indicator to differentiate between true falls into water and mere water exposure. When the submersion sensor detects water contact, the weight sensor provides additional confirmation by detecting the characteristic weight change that occurs during a fall, serving as a mediating verification mechanism to eliminate false alarms

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

2Device complexity

If only a water detector is used, then the system complexity is reduced, but the ability to accurately distinguish fall scenarios from water exposure is lost

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvenumber of sensorsVSAvoidaccident type differentiation

Core Design Contradiction:

Device complexityVSMeasurement precision

Solution Approach 1:

The detection system is segmented into two specialized sensors with distinct functions: the submersion sensor detects water contact conditions, while the weight sensor detects gravitational force changes. This functional segmentation enables precise differentiation between water exposure and falls into water, achieving high measurement precision without excessive complexity

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

Each sensor serves multiple purposes: the submersion sensor detects both water exposure and fall conditions, while the weight sensor provides verification for fall detection and can also detect other weight-changing events. This multi-functionality allows the two-sensor system to achieve superior differentiation capability compared to a single sensor, while the modular design keeps overall system complexity manageable

Inventive Principle:

Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

Applied Scientific Principles

This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.

Function Achieved in This Case

Enables accurate determination of fall-into-water accidents by identifying weight changes and immersion, thereby preventing false alarms and ensuring timely rescue notifications.

Implementation Method 1

a weight detector configured to be attached to an occupant of a vessel and configured to detect a weight applied to a foot of the occupant

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectWeight detection: Gravitation

Implementation Method 2

a water detector configured to be attached to the occupant and configured to detect water

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectWater detection: Absorption (physical)

Data Source

PatentUS10943459B2Fall-into-water accident determination system and fall-into-water accident determination method

Publication Date: 2021.03.09 SUZUKI MOTOR CORP

AI summary

There is provided a fall-into-water accident determination system including: a weight detector configured to be attached to an occupant of a vessel and configured to detect a weight applied to a foot of the occupant; a water detector configured to be attached to the occupant and configured to detect water; and a fall-into-water accident determinator configured to determine whether a fall-into-water accident in which the occupant falls into water from the vessel occurs. The fall-into-water accident determinator determines whether the weight changes based on a detection result of the weight detector. The fall-into-water accident determinator determines whether the occupant is immersed in water based on a detection result of the water detector. And the fall-into-water accident determinator determines that the fall-into-water accident occurs when the weight changes and the occupant is immersed in water.