AI-Powered Fall Detection and Occupancy Monitoring with IoT

When people think about IoT, they often think about temperature sensors, asset tracking or smart buildings. However, some of the most impactful applications are those that help protect vulnerable people whilst respecting their privacy.

The Milesight VS373 is a good example of how modern AI and LoRaWAN technologies can work together to create safer environments for healthcare providers, care homes, assisted living facilities and social housing organisations.

The Milesight VS373 is an AI-powered occupancy and fall detection sensor that uses millimetre-wave radar technology to monitor activity within a room.

Unlike traditional motion sensors, it doesn’t simply detect movement. Instead, it uses built-in AI algorithms to understand what is happening within the space and identify specific events or behaviours.

• Falls
• Bed occupancy
• Room occupancy
• Extended inactivity
• Movement patterns

Importantly, it achieves this without using cameras or recording audio, making it suitable for environments where privacy is essential.

One of the most impressive features of the VS373 is its use of Edge AI.

Rather than sending data to the cloud for processing, the sensor analyses radar signals locally within the device itself. This allows it to identify events in real time whilst reducing bandwidth requirements and protecting privacy.

This means the sensor can intelligently distinguish between normal movement and situations that may require attention, such as a fall or prolonged period of inactivity.

For care providers and housing organisations, this offers a practical way to improve safety without introducing intrusive monitoring technologies.

Whilst the sensor itself is impressive, its true potential is unlocked when connected to a LoRaWAN network.

LoRaWAN is designed to provide long-range, low-power connectivity, making it ideal for IoT deployments across large buildings, campuses and geographically dispersed sites. Using the MTG LoRaWAN infrastructure, VS373 sensors can securely transmit alerts and telemetry data without relying on Wi-Fi or expensive cellular connections.

This makes deployment straightforward in environments such as:

• Care homes
• Assisted living facilities
• Sheltered accommodation
• Social housing developments
• Hospitals
• Community healthcare settings
• Rural locations

Traditional personal alarm systems often depend on an individual activating a pendant or emergency button when assistance is required.

The challenge is that these systems can only help if the person is able to use them.

By continuously monitoring a room, the VS373 can automatically identify incidents such as falls or unusual inactivity and trigger alerts without requiring any user interaction.

This creates opportunities to support vulnerable individuals living independently for longer whilst providing reassurance to families, carers and service providers.

We help organisations deploy LoRaWAN solutions that deliver real-world outcomes. Whether you’re looking to support independent living, improve building utilisation, enhance workplace safety or develop a wider smart building strategy, we can help design, deploy and integrate the right solution.

The Milesight VS373 demonstrates how AI-powered sensors and LoRaWAN connectivity can work together to create smarter, safer environments without the complexity traditionally associated with IoT projects.

If you’d like to explore how LoRaWAN and AI-enabled sensors could benefit your organisation, get in touch with our team today.