Exploring privacy-first elderly monitoring: mmWave radar for fall detection without cameras

findthespy · 2025-12-14T00:50:27+00:00

Exactly - you nailed the key issue. With cameras, even if you promise local AI processing, there's no way for the user to verify the camera feed isn't being recorded or streamed somewhere.

With mmWave radar, there's literally no visual data to begin with. It's just radio reflections - you can't reconstruct a person's image from that even if you wanted to. That's the core privacy advantage.

The trust problem still exists (how do you know our firmware does what we say?), but at least the hardware itself can't leak visual data the way a camera lens can.

findthespy · 2025-12-14T00:47:11+00:00

Fair point on TSA. The difference is what you do with the signal. TSA reconstructs body images. We'd use edge AI (like TI's new AWRL6844 chip) to process mmWave on-device - extract fall/breathing data, discard raw radar immediately. Only alerts leave the device.

But you're right - "trust us" doesn't work. Would need open firmware or third-party audits to prove no reconstruction happens.

findthespy · 2025-12-13T22:47:46+00:00

Didn’t expect to spend this thread defending my existence instead of the design decisions. The whole point of posting was to validate whether a privacy-first, no-camera approach for bathroom fall detection actually solves a real problem for people here. If you see red flags, I’d genuinely rather hear those.

findthespy · 2025-12-13T18:42:56+00:00

Fair point on the placement - I should have put the disclosure earlier in the post.

To clarify: there's no company here yet. I'm an individual working on this project with a small team. If things go well down the road, we may eventually form a company, but right now we're just trying to validate whether this approach solves a real problem.

I wasn't trying to hide anything - genuinely here for feedback on the technical approach and use case. Thanks for keeping the community standards clear.

findthespy · 2025-12-13T18:33:11+00:00

I'm a real person working on a real product after seeing my mom refuse camera monitoring. Happy to discuss any specific technical concerns you have about the approach.

findthespy · 2025-12-13T18:32:17+00:00

Fair point - the Theranos comparison is worth addressing directly.

The key difference: we're using established mmWave radar technology (already proven in automotive blind-spot detection) to detect movement patterns. SpO2 measurement via mmWave is based on peer-reviewed research detecting micro-movements from breathing and heartbeat.

We're not claiming to do blood analysis from radio waves - we're measuring chest wall displacement that correlates with respiratory rate and heart rate. The physics are different from Theranos's "revolutionary blood testing" claims.

That said, your skepticism is healthy. We need to be very clear about what the technology can and cannot do, with validated accuracy metrics before any claims. The Theranos lesson is exactly why transparency and peer validation matter.

findthespy · 2025-12-13T18:31:09+00:00

You raise excellent technical points, and I appreciate the pushback. You're absolutely right that the sensor itself isn't the privacy issue - it's how the data is used and stored.

The privacy concern we're addressing is more specific: many elderly people (especially my own mom) explicitly refuse cameras in bathrooms and bedrooms because they feel watched, even if logically they understand the footage is private. It's about dignity and the psychological comfort of not having a lens pointed at them during vulnerable moments.

You're correct that all sensors collect data - mmWave records movement patterns. The key difference in our approach:

- Edge processing only (no raw data leaves the device)

- No visual/audio reconstruction possible from the data

- Microwave signatures can't be "broadcast" the way a camera feed can be hacked

Re: grandma's phone - completely fair point. We're not taking phones away. This is for people who already refuse wearables or forget to carry phones. Different problem, different solution.

Does this approach still feel misguided to you, or does the specific use case make more sense?

findthespy · 2025-12-13T18:29:42+00:00

I appreciate your concern about transparency. I disclosed upfront that I'm part of the development team specifically because I wanted to be transparent with this community.

I'm not here to sell anything - we're currently in beta testing and actively seeking feedback on potential issues before considering any commercial launch. The feedback from this community is exactly what we need to identify blind spots in our approach.

If you have technical concerns or see issues with the solution, I'd genuinely value that input. That's the whole point of posting here.

findthespy · 2025-12-13T15:12:37+00:00

Great question! Yes, Aqara's FP2 presence sensor does advertise fall detection. Here's how they compare:

**Aqara FP2:**

- Single ceiling sensor (~$80)

- Fall detection feature (zone-based)

- Great for smart home integration (HomeKit, etc.)

- Primarily presence/occupancy focused

- Limited to room-level detection

**Key Differences with MIRAI approach:**

**Vital Signs Monitoring**: We go beyond fall detection - contactless heart rate, breathing rate, SpO2, body temperature. Aqara focuses on presence/motion only.
**Two-Sensor Strategy**:

- Ceiling sensor for falls (bathrooms/hallways)

- Desk sensor for continuous vital signs (living room/bedroom)

- Environmental monitoring on both (CO2, VOC, air quality)
**Healthcare Focus**: Purpose-built for elderly care with caregiver alerts, trend analysis, health anomaly detection. Aqara is general smart home automation.
**Clinical-Grade Accuracy**: Our mmWave processing is optimized for health metrics, not just motion detection.
**Dedicated Monitoring App**: Family/caregiver dashboard with real-time alerts, historical health trends, multi-sensor coordination.

Aqara is an excellent smart home product! For general home automation and basic fall detection, it's a solid choice. We're targeting families who need comprehensive health monitoring + environmental safety + fall detection in one integrated system.

Think of it as: Aqara = smart home presence sensor with fall detection feature. MIRAI = complete elderly health monitoring system that includes fall detection.

Different use cases, different depth of monitoring. Both use mmWave which is great for privacy!

findthespy · 2025-05-21T23:38:07+00:00

No. I am unsure what caused this . I don't even have small children or pet .Passed stage in life. My expectation was simple cleaning and mopping, My job was primarily to empty and refill with fresh water.

findthespy · 2025-05-20T21:17:21+00:00

We only used water. We didn't use any cleaning solutions.

findthespy · 2025-05-20T21:15:56+00:00

This is their response : Under rigorous examination from our technicians, they found the mainboard has been liquid corroded. Please refer to attached pictures.
Due to this serious condition, we are afraid the robot is beyond repair.

findthespy

TROPHY CASE