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Advice Needed: Choosing Nordic Nrf52840 + Bosch Bhi260ap Imu For Wearable Fall-detection Device

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I'm working on a wrist-worn wearable aimed at elderly fall detection, with the following planned specs:

  • MCU: Nordic nRF52840 (chosen for low-power BLE, decent processing for edge ML)
  • IMU Sensor: Bosch BHI260AP (3-axis accelerometer + gyro with integrated AI capabilities)
  • Battery: ~150 mAh Li-Po, target battery life is 5–7 days per charge
  • Charging: Either pogo-pin or inductive coil charging (still deciding)
  • Feedback: Integrated vibration motor for alert feedback

Questions:

  1. Is the nRF52840 + BHI260AP IMU combo appropriate for reliable, low-power fall detection and edge ML? Has anyone successfully implemented a similar combination?
  2. Are there common pitfalls or "gotchas" with this MCU/sensor pairing that we should anticipate upfront? (power draw, I2C/SPI quirks, sensor drift, BLE antenna design challenges)
  3. Any experience or advice on integrating vibration motors for feedback in ultra-low-power devices like this? (Driver ICs, best practices for minimizing battery drain, UX considerations)

Any insights or guidance greatly appreciated

submitted by /u/manwax5
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