Chinese scientists have built the first fully automated, AI-powered robot lifeguard that doesn’t need human assistance. This lifeguard robot is stationed at a river in Luohe city, Henan province, and can operate 24/7, watching over the water and detecting any dangers.
The robot uses artificial intelligence, big data, and advanced tracking technology to identify if someone is in trouble in the water. If it detects a drowning person, it quickly plans a rescue path and uses a life-saving buoy and a rescue arm to help pull the person to safety.
The robot relies on a network of 100 optical and thermal imaging cameras to monitor the area at all times. These cameras send real-time footage to a server, which then uses an algorithm to decide if someone is struggling. If needed, the robot lifeguard is immediately deployed.
The goal of this robot is to act quickly—often within five minutes—since that is the critical time for saving lives in drowning situations. Unlike older rescue methods, this AI lifeguard can reach a person faster than humans, potentially saving more lives.
While other remote-controlled rescue robots exist, such as Emily from the U.S. and JTT Technology’s model from China, this is the first lifeguard that’s fully automated and doesn’t require any human control. According to the World Health Organization, drowning is the third leading cause of accidental death worldwide, with over 300,000 deaths in 2021, including 59,000 in China, mostly children.
This robot lifeguard is expected to make water areas much safer by responding faster and covering more area than traditional lifeguards.
Source: scmp
