Iranian Lab's Quadcopters To Rescue Swimmers 81
mpthompson writes "Via RoboticsTrends' newsletter, RTS Lab in Tehran is developing Pars, which is an aerial rescue robot quadcopter designed to save potential drowning victims. The ship-based quadcopter responds instantly when alerted to potential victims in the ocean, locating them with thermal imaging sensors, and dispensing life preservers directly over them. The current prototype carries one life preserver, but they are working on a new model to carry three life preserver rings. Future models may dispense up to 15 self-inflating rings. A launching platform for use on ships has been designed, but more intriguing is an idea for a remote stand-alone launching platform. It's good to see innovative robot tech coming from a country that is not normally well covered in Western media."
Unlikely to work when needed. (Score:1, Interesting)
It won't work worth spit in a storm.
and that is when you REALLY need something to work.
Re:Unlikely to work when needed. (Score:5, Interesting)
Presumably this is in addition to, not a replacement for, other rescue technologies/methods currently in use. If this is a way of getting life preservers to victims at high speed ahead of the conventional lifeboat that is also on the way, that can only be a good thing. A full sized lifeboat can go at what, 25 knots (30 mph) maybe, and perhaps a quadcopter can go 50 mph, that might be the difference between someone being in the cold, rough water without safety equipment for 30 mins or 15 mins.
The quadcopter in TFA also has a heatcam, LED emergency beacons, and a voice recognition system to pick up on people shouting for help. All things that should make it easier for a lifeboat or rescue helicopter to directly pinpoint people in distress and get to them more quickly.