Device for tracking, position prediction and rescue of victims in an aquatic medium

Abstract

The invention relates to a device for tracking, position prediction and rescue of victims in an aquatic medium, comprising a physical dummy, which mimics a shipwreck victim and comprises at least one swim bladder for ensuring variable buoyancy at different depths; a digital twin, consisting of a configurable expert system, which controls and operates the cycle life of the dummy in real time, from entry into the water up to rescue, replicating the behaviour of a shipwrecked person; and a communications system, which, when the dummy is submerged, releases to the surface multiple capsules that transmit to the digital twin the GPS position of the dummy and the necessary data to identify the dummy.

Description

[0001] DESCRIPTION

[0002] Device for tracking, predicting positioning and rescuing victims in an aquatic environment.

[0003] Technology sector

[0004] This application falls within the sector of simulation devices to facilitate search and rescue operations for victims in aquatic environments.

[0005] This physical-digital device (hereinafter referred to as the mannequin), along with the external computer system that complements it, constitutes a tool intended, on the one hand, to facilitate the search and rescue of living people who accidentally fall into a moving body of water, primarily the sea or rivers, whether from the shore or riverbank or from a vessel far from the coast. On the other hand, in the worst-case scenario, it can significantly reduce the search and recovery time for victims of an accident in a water environment once death has occurred.

[0006] This mannequin, along with the system that complements it, allows rescue teams to receive real-time information about its position, even when submerged, thus reducing the search area for rescue operations since the designed mannequin constitutes a physical and intelligent system (digital twin) that can emulate the behavior of a body, submerged or not, in an aquatic environment and periodically communicate its position even submerged.

[0007] The external computer system that receives and manages communications with the dummy can also be fed with additional information on the climatic characteristics of the area, such as currents, tides or winds, among others, which allow the computer system, in addition to collecting the real location generated by the dummy, to predict its positioning.

[0008] Background of the invention

[0009] As a current state of the art, various devices have been developed as replicas of human bodies that allow for tracking their drift once they have been released into an aquatic environment, primarily the sea. Devices are also known that, without reproducing a human form, aim to simulate the buoyancy and temperature conditions of a body, so that they can generate a thermal signature that facilitates its detection by rescue teams. Submersible mannequins have also been developed, mainly for use in swimming pools, so that rescue teams can practice rescues and, if necessary, perform resuscitation maneuvers.

[0010] From the perspective of the invention, it can be considered that:

[0011] Current developments are limited to the manufacture of passive designs, with or without human form, which on the one hand allow rescue teams to handle "dead weights" in the water for the purpose of rescue practice or, on the other hand, can be released into the sea.

[0012] Some of the devices that can reproduce buoyancy and movement do so in a static way. That is, they can modify the degree of drift with fixed mechanisms or be filled with more or less water to modify their buoyancy, but once they are released, they cannot alter their behavior.

[0013] Some of the above designs, when on the surface, can be thermally tracked or geolocated.

[0014] Unlike other simulators on the market, which are limited to passively and statically reproducing certain buoyancy conditions of a body in water, this integrated simulation system allows for an active, advanced, and dynamic representation of a body's evolution in water from its fall into the sea: drowning, sinking, estimation of the decomposition process, and flotation. All of this is managed by a human digital twin whose behavior can be parameterized and a set of sensors that provide it with information about the environment and the mannequin itself. Furthermore, the system includes the incorporation of an underwater tracking device that releases capsules emitting position signals, providing approximate information about the mannequin's location while submerged.This level of change in the puppet's behavior and the intelligent control of its evolution, both on the surface and submerged, is not present in existing technologies.

[0015] Finally, the external computer system allows the integration and representation of the different sources of information that complete the system: Information from the dummy on the surface, information emitted by the capsules, when they reach the surface, released by the submerged dummy, radio signals and information on weather conditions of the area of ​​operation planned for the dummy.

[0016] Explanation of the invention

[0017] The object of the present invention, as described thus far, is a device for simulating a human body in water, characterized by integrating an intelligent system, a human digital twin, that actively and dynamically reproduces the behavior of the human body in water. The model emits different types of signals to facilitate the tracking of the device and predict its evolution by rescue teams, both air and sea, provided they have the computer system integrated into the model.

[0018] The device is primarily designed to be used by rescue services both to improve team training and to facilitate and reduce the search time for shipwrecked people, alive or dead, in a real shipwreck.

[0019] Furthermore, since the mannequin can be equipped with an EPIRB (Electronic Position Indicating Radio Beacon), it can be incorporated as safety equipment on ships so that, in the event of an accident, it can be monitored as a crew rescue tool. The essential condition for this monitoring to be feasible is that the safety equipment has the technical platform that will allow rescue teams to track the mannequins, uniquely associating each mannequin with each ship.

[0020] Therefore, the system is made up of the following subsystems:

[0021] A physical mannequin, designed to enable a faithful simulation of the evolution of a shipwreck victim. Composed of synthetic materials that mimic human biological tissue, it also integrates various elements necessary to reproduce the behavior of a body in water, primarily one or more swim bladders that ensure variable buoyancy at the depth precisely determined by the digital twin with meter-level accuracy: bottom, mid-water, or surface. It also includes a watertight housing for all the sensors and mechanical and electronic components necessary for the digital twin to make real-time decisions, the communication systems, and the battery pack that ensures its operation. Furthermore, the mannequin can be "dressed" with various safety equipment that shipwreck victims might wear when they fall into the water.For example, a life jacket, a dry suit, a survival suit, or others.

[0022] A digital twin, consisting of a configurable expert system that controls and operates the lifecycle of the dummy in real time, from its entry into the water to its rescue, attempts to accurately reproduce the behavior of a person from entry into the water, drowning (if applicable), sinking, simulated decomposition, and surfacing. It manages a set of environmental sensors that monitor temperature, pressure, salinity, and other critical factors such as impact sensors and the dummy's integrity in real time.

[0023] The system is configured by default to simulate the rescue of an average-sized individual. In the case of rescuing individuals with known characteristics, most of the predefined parameters can be modified at launch. The expert system will react to the new values ​​set: among others, sex, height, body mass index, mannequin weight, clothing, and the person's swimming skills. Other operating parameters can also be modified, such as the interval between communications while submerged, the interval between communications on the surface, preferred communication system(s), simulation duration (search time limit), and other accident conditions that, due to their specificity, can significantly alter the mannequin's behavior: diver, windsurfer, swimmer, shore fisherman, ship crew member, and others.If so, the dummy can be parameterized at the time of its launch so that it immediately submerges, pretending to replicate the fall into the water of a dead person with flooded lungs.

[0024] A communications system. The dummy supports different communication modes depending on its state and position: submerged or on the surface. When the dummy is on the surface, it will transmit data using one of the technologies installed on the dummy, which are described below. When the dummy is submerged, it will release a miniaturized, positively buoyant capsule at a pre-set frequency. This capsule will transmit, upon reaching the surface, its GPS position (provided by the capsule's own GPS sensor) and the data supplied by the digital twin at the time of the capsule's release. The dummy will have a sufficient number of capsules for the display system to determine a trajectory.Each capsule is technically self-contained, with its own battery, antenna, and the circuitry necessary for communication. It is identified by a unique code that includes the dummy's identification and a sequential number of capsules fired. It is estimated that, with the miniaturization required for the final development of this system, its volume will not exceed 75 cc and its weight will be less than 75 g. Therefore, the number of capsules managed by the dummy can be significantly high (this requirement is not definitive and may be modified as a result of final tests prior to mass production). The digital twin compensates for the dummy's buoyancy with each release to maintain its stability at the depth determined by the digital twin.

[0025] Both the mannequin and the capsules can include one or more of the following communication modes: a. Narrowband IoT technology. Always available on the mannequin. Suitable for rescues in lakes, rivers, or the sea near the coast. Also available with custom development in the capsules. Two-way communication. b. Private satellite communication. Always available on the mannequin. Also available with custom development in the capsules. Two-way communication. c. EPIRB beacon with GPS positioning. Available on the mannequin. If included, it requires compliance with certain regulations and agreements with maritime rescue authorities. d. Radio telemetry. Always available on the mannequin. Initially not of interest in the capsules. e. Flares. Available on the mannequin. f. Flashing lights. Available on the mannequin. g. Underwater communications and signals.

[0026] When communication is bidirectional (ayb), the system allows instructions to be given to the dummy, if it is on the surface, to generate events (emit flashes, flares) or modify certain behavior parameters in real time.

[0027] A software application that integrates the following subsystems: a) Digital Twin Management. Its main function is to manage the dummy's behavior using available parameters and, if necessary, retrieve information captured by the data logger during a rescue. The connection to the dummy in proximity is established via Bluetooth or a physical connection using a cable and serial port. b) Calls to the dummy. When the installed communication systems are bidirectional, this function allows direct communication with the dummy to request data, modify its behavior, or generate events. c) Manual and Batch Captures. An interface is available for manually entering positions and assimilating large amounts of known weather conditions in different geographical locations. d) Representation Subsystem.The associated software uses artificial intelligence to optimize the search area in real time, taking into account historical data on currents, tides and weather, along with real-time data received from the dummy and the capsules.

[0028] Description of the drawings

[0029] To improve the understanding of how the invention works, it has been preferred to represent it using block diagrams and subsystems rather than resorting to a figurative illustration.

[0030] Figure 1. Diagram of the components of the physical dummy and digital twin. It shows the basic components of the model and the relationships between them. The core is the digital twin, responsible for managing sensor data and parameters entered during launch, replicating the body's behavior, and transmitting the communication planned in the model at all times. The various elements represented in the diagram are integrated into the physical design in such a way that their weight, size, and placement within the dummy facilitate its human-like behavior in the water.

[0031] Figure 2. Schematic of a communications capsule. It shows the basic elements of the capsule that the mannequin will periodically release when submerged. When the capsule surfaces, it transmits a message through at least one of the integrated communication systems. Figure 3. Data flow. It shows the data flow that can be displayed on the model to assist rescue team members. This includes the location of all the mannequin's signaling devices, which are captured automatically, an optional bulk input of weather data for the search area, and manual entry of positioning data as a backup to the automatic system.

[0032] Figure 4. Representation. As an example, a possible representation generated by the model is included that integrates information on climatology and movement of local waters and, at least, two types of signals differentiating those emitted by a mannequin and others from capsules.

[0033] Preferred embodiment of the invention

[0034] The dummy is manufactured in a human shape from synthetic materials reinforced with a protective mesh to prevent fractures from potential impacts against rocks and attacks by predators. All the elements included in the model are evenly distributed throughout the dummy's body to facilitate bladder compensation, thus replicating the body's position on the surface or in mid-water. It includes a watertight compartment to house the electronic components of the digital twin. The dummy has a multifunction connection for powering the batteries and a communication port for inputting or retrieving data from the digital twin.

[0035] The capsules that are released when the doll is submerged are made of biodegradable, transparent plastic. It also has a multifunction terminal that allows its battery to be powered by the doll's own energy, and a Bluetooth communication port through which it receives instructions from its digital twin.

[0036] Although not a differentiating factor, the maximum depth used for calculating resistance in the construction of the dummy and capsules is 50 meters, although this parameter may be modified during the model's construction and testing, increasing the initially planned operating depth. To prevent damage, the dummy will never exceed this limit, which is managed by the digital twin itself.

[0037] An example of system use is as follows: 1. The mannequin is delivered fully assembled with all the sensors, mechanisms, antennas, and transmitters specified in the model. The customer can connect their preferred communication systems (described above) to the communication port of the waterproof enclosure, depending on the intended use. The communication systems, manufactured in a miniaturized form and custom-made for the model, are mounted in the waterproof enclosure using a plug-and-play system. The digital twin recognizes the connected systems.

[0038] 2. The customer installs the capsules in the doll using the capsule charger, which are individually connected to the doll via its multifunction terminal that also facilitates charging the batteries of the capsules.

[0039] 3. The batteries in the unit are charged by connecting the plug, located on the doll's multifunction terminal, to the mains using an external 12-volt adapter. The capsules are charged through the doll.

[0040] 4. The digital twin is configured in a standard way with a typical use case. Behavioral parameters can be modified by the user, via an application installed on a computer and a Bluetooth connection, before launching into the water. The application displays the configuration status of the digital twin, showing the parameters that can be modified to improve the dummy's simulation.

[0041] 5. The dummy is ready to activate after being launched into the water. The user can, by connecting to the dummy via the application, perform a service test whereby the dummy emits, through the available communication channels, except for the EPIRB radio beacon, a test signal that can be managed, as a test, in the presentation application.

[0042] 6. Before launching the dummy: it can be dressed in various safety equipment that the shipwrecked person might have worn at the time of the shipwreck: life jacket or dry survival suit, among others. It can be programmed to submerge immediately to simulate a dead man's situation with no buoyancy and flooded lungs.

[0043] The user can launch more than one mannequin into the water with different parameters or safety equipment, since each mannequin and capsule has a distinct and unique identifier. The representation system will be able to track the differentiated evolution of all the mannequins launched into the water. 7. After being launched into the water, either by a rescue team or from a ship (that has acquired the mannequin as a user of the system) at the moment of a possible shipwreck, the mannequin floats in a vertical position, unless another behavior has been parameterized, and the digital twin begins its life cycle.

[0044] 8. Buoyancy is managed with at least two swim bladders connected to a pressure system that inflates or deflates them according to the instructions of the digital twin. The pressure state of each bladder allows the dummy to adopt any position in the water: head out of the water, horizontal, vertical, or any other position determined by the digital twin.

[0045] 9. From the moment it falls into the water and remains on the surface, the dummy immediately begins to communicate its position through the installed communication systems.

[0046] 10. When the intelligent system of the digital twin determines, based on environmental conditions and expected human resistance, that the dummy must submerge (death has occurred), it acts on the bladders, controlling at all times the speed of immersion, position of the dummy and the depth up to the limit pre-established in the system parameters.

[0047] 11. When submerged, the dummy ceases transmitting signals through the communication system. At a predetermined frequency, the dummy begins the phased capsule release process: a. A capsule is loaded into the capsule launcher. b. The digital twin transmits the dummy's key data to the capsule processor via the Bluetooth port in the watertight chamber: dive time, estimated time to surface, temperature, depth, estimated battery life, a unique identification code for the dummy and the capsule, and any other data relevant to the dummy's operation, such as impacts with rocks / bottom or predator attacks. c. Once the data upload is complete, the launcher fires the capsule. d. The frequency at which the dummy fires capsules can be progressively reduced to accommodate longer dives.

[0048] 12. When the launched capsule emerges, it begins to transmit, at a parameterizable interval, normally via NB_loT (when this coverage exists on the coast) or, in any case, a private satellite communication, the data stored by the dummy and adding the GPS coordinates captured by the sensor incorporated in the capsule.

[0049] 13. Tracking and drift of the capsules. Although the determining value of the capsules is the first emission at the moment of emergence, since it indicates the approximate position of the dummy while submerged, the capsules continue to emit until the battery runs out since their movement can be useful to estimate future positions of the dummy due to the influence of tides, current or wind.

[0050] 14. When the digital twin determines that the dummy should emerge and it reaches the surface, the dummy begins to communicate its position again through the installed communication systems.

[0051] 15. Up to this point, based on the experience of the expert system, the dummy has reproduced the evolution of a corpse in the water.

[0052] 16. The rescue team can focus the search on a specific area using the representation application that includes on a conventional chart all the location signals emitted by the dummy or the fired capsules.

[0053] 17. Recovery of the dummy. The dummy always surfaces after a parameterizable number of days, anticipating battery depletion, and begins to emit its GPS position, emit light flashes at certain times, also parameterizable, and a radio frequency signal that allows its location on the surface by conventional means.

[0054] 18. Other signals. When communication with the dummy is bidirectional, the rescue team can communicate with the dummy at any time while it is on the surface to alter the behavior parameters or request that it increase the speed of the flashes or launch a flare.

[0055] 19. The dummy generates a data log that can be downloaded to a computer once recovered to analyze the evolution of the rescue.

Claims

CLAIMS 1.- Device for tracking, predicting positioning and rescuing victims in an aquatic environment, comprising: a physical mannequin, simulating a shipwreck victim, made of synthetic materials that mimic human biological tissues, incorporating a watertight housing containing sensors and mechanical and electronic components necessary for its operation, as well as various elements to reproduce the behavior of a body in water, including at least one swim bladder that ensures its variable buoyancy at different depths;a digital twin, consisting of a parameterizable expert system, which controls and operates in real time the life cycle of the dummy from its entry into the water until its rescue, reproducing what would be the behavior of a person from their entry into the water, drowning in their case, sinking, simulation of the decomposition process and emergence to the surface, managing for this purpose a set of environmental sensors that monitor in real time the temperature, pressure, salinity and other factors such as the impact and integrity of the dummy; a communication system, which operates in different communication modes depending on the state and position of the dummy;and that, when the dummy is submerged, it comprises several miniature capsules, with positive buoyancy, which are released at a pre-established frequency, which incorporate means of communication that, when it reaches the surface, send to its digital twin at least the GPS position where it is located and the data necessary to identify the dummy; and a computer application, which integrates functions to manage the behavior of the dummy, to make calls to the dummy allowing direct communication to be established with it in order to request data, modify its behavior or generate events.

2. Device, according to claim 1, characterized in that the physical doll integrates multiple swimming bladders connected to a pressure system that floods or empties them to manage the buoyancy and position of the doll in the water (head out, horizontal, vertical).

3. Device, according to claim 1, characterized in that the physical doll is designed so that all its elements are distributed in a balanced way to facilitate the compensation of the bladders and reproduce the position of the body on the surface or in the water.

4. Device, according to claim 1, characterized in that the physical mannequin can be dressed with different safety equipment that the shipwrecked person could wear, such as a life jacket or a dry survival suit.

5. Device, according to claim 1, characterized in that the doll's communication system includes at least one of the following communication modes: NarrowBand-IoT (NB-IoT), private satellite communication, EPIRB radio beacon with GPS positioning, radio telemetry, flares or flashes.

6. Device, according to claim 5, characterized in that the NB-LoT communication modes and / or private satellite communication are bidirectional.

7. - Device, according to claim 1, characterized in that the miniaturized capsules, released when the doll is submerged, incorporate a GPS sensor and a unique identification code that includes the identification of the doll and a sequential number of the capsule fired.

8. Device, according to claim 7, characterized in that the miniaturized capsules are made of biodegradable transparent plastic material.

9. Device, according to claim 1, characterized in that the digital twin is designed to allow the modification of predefined parameters at the time of launch, such as sex, height, body mass index, weight of the dummy, clothing, water dexterity or other specific accident conditions.

10. Device, according to claim 1, characterized in that the digital twin compensates for the buoyancy of the doll in each release of a capsule to maintain the depth determined by the expert system.

11. A device according to claim 1, characterized in that the digital twin is configured so that the dummy can be parameterized to immediately submerge upon being thrown into the water, simulating the fall of a dead person with flooded lungs.

12. A device according to claim 1, characterized in that the software application includes a rendering subsystem that uses artificial intelligence to optimize the search area in real time, considering historical data on currents, tides, and weather, along with real-time data received from the dummy and the capsules.

13. A device according to claim 12, characterized in that the software application can be fed with manual and bulk captures of known meteorological conditions in different geographical locations.

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