Robotic Lifeguard

We recently saw a great example of how existing technology can be put to important new uses when the seagoing robot known as EMILY (Emergency Integrated Lifesaving LanYard) rescued 300 migrants from drowning in the Mediterranean. Originally designed for UAV applications to monitor whale movements during Navy sonar tests, the key component technologies (such as engines and navigation computers) have also been used for aerial surveillance and reconnaissance as well as in surface vehicles for hurricane tracking and search-and-rescue. Then, as the result of a collaborative effort between the Office of Naval Research and the Small Business Technology Transfer Program, the developer took the technology one step further.

Now EMILY is impacting global humanitarian efforts with lifesaving capabilities that no human could match, including navigating through 30-foot waves and smashing into reefs while travelling at speeds up to 22 miles per hour. Constructed of Kevlar and aircraft-grade composites, EMILY is virtually indestructible, so she can be thrown out of a helicopter or off a bridge and driven via remote control to her destination. The bright orange, red and yellow body can be easily spotted, but she’s also equipped with two-way radios, a video camera and navigation lights. A swift-water conversion kit is also in the works that will include a life vest and helmet for river rescues.