Researchers have developed a GPS-enabled aerial robot that flies out over large bodies of water to drop life preservers near people who are drowning.
A working prototype of the robot, called Pars, was developed by RTS Lab, an Iran-based company, which also tested the machine's capabilities in open water.
Over the course of four days in August of this year, the Pars development team visited the Caspian Sea to conduct a battery of tests on its brand new prototype.
The location was chosen partly because it's been the site of several tragic drownings in the past few years.
The team tested the Pars' stability during flight, the accuracy of the life preserver release mechanism, and the bot's performance in both day and nighttime conditions, 'Gizmag' reported.
According to the researchers at RTS Labs, the prototype bot met their expectations perfectly.
The Pars was able to fly for 10 minutes at a top speed of 10 m/s before needing to recharge. This gives it a maximum range of 4.5 km, making it ideal for emergencies occurring along coastlines and near ships at sea.
It also proved to have an advantage over its flesh and blood counterparts, since it can bypass treacherous waters with ease.
When conducting a trial rescue mission, the drone was able to reach a target 75 m away and drop its payload in about 22 seconds, while a human lifeguard took 91 seconds to swim to the same location.
During testing at night, the Pars was also able to illuminate targets on the ground and make itself more visible to its controller on land using several bright LEDs.
While the aerial bot cannot pull anyone to safety just yet, it could be sent out ahead of rescue crews to provide some initial aid.
The company plans to refine its current design so the bot can land on the water in an emergency. They also plan to outfit it with artificial intelligence that processes images and sound to locate people in trouble.
