Air-Deployable Buoy for Real-Time Drift Data
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current search and rescue operations in open ocean environments face challenges due to unreliable drift models and lack of real-time data on sea conditions, leading to increased search areas and risks for rescue teams.
Innovation Solution
An air-deployable buoyant device equipped with sensors and a transmitter that provides real-time data on location and environmental conditions, including wind, current, and wave height, to assist in locating individuals in the water and inform rescue teams.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If drift models are used to predict IP location without real-time data, then the search operation can proceed without additional devices, but the model accuracy decreases exponentially over time and the recommended search area increases
Solution Approach 1:
The buoy is deployed in advance at the last known position of the IP before the search operation begins. This preliminary placement allows the buoy to start collecting and transmitting drift data immediately, providing a baseline for accurate tracking from the outset rather than relying solely on predictive models that degrade over time.
Solution Approach 2:
The buoy continuously transmits real-time GPS position and environmental sensor data back to the rescue coordination center. This feedback loop allows the drift model to be continuously updated with actual observed data, correcting model errors and maintaining accuracy throughout the search operation rather than degrading exponentially.
2Reliability
If the search area is increased to account for model uncertainty, then all possible IP locations can be covered, but the area to be combed increases and resources are depleted
Solution Approach 1:
Real-time position data from the buoy provides continuous feedback on the actual drift path, allowing the search area to be concentrated around the predicted position based on actual observations rather than expanding to cover all possible scenarios. This maintains reliable IP location coverage while dramatically improving search efficiency.
Solution Approach 2:
The search area dynamically adjusts based on real-time buoy data transmission. As the buoy provides continuous position updates, the recommended search area can be dynamically refined and narrowed, rather than maintaining a static large area to account for all uncertainties. This improves productivity while maintaining reliability.
3Ease of operation
If forecasted models are used to assess water conditions, then the rescue team can plan the rescue operation, but the conditions cannot be reliably predicted and real-time data is unavailable
Solution Approach 1:
The buoy transmits real-time environmental sensor data including wave height, wind speed and direction, and water temperature directly to the rescue coordination center. This provides reliable, actual observed conditions for rescue planning rather than relying on forecasted models that cannot accurately predict local micro-environmental conditions.
Solution Approach 2:
The buoy autonomously collects and transmits its own environmental data without requiring external measurement equipment. This self-service capability provides the rescue team with reliable real-time condition data that they can use for planning and decision-making throughout the operation.
4Loss of information
If multiple sensors are integrated into the buoy, then comprehensive real-time data can be collected, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
Multiple environmental sensors (wave height, wind speed, wind direction, water temperature) and a GPS receiver are integrated into a single buoy device with a unified power source and data transmission system. This merging approach collects comprehensive environmental data while managing device complexity through integrated design rather than separate distributed sensors.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
The device enhances the accuracy of drift models, reduces search areas, and ensures safer rescue operations by providing critical, real-time data to rescue teams, potentially saving time and resources and increasing the chances of successful rescues.
Implementation Method 1
an air deployable buoyant device equipped with sensors and a transmitter that provides real-time data on location and environmental conditions
Implementation Method 2
Each sensor measures at least one local condition in the air or on a body of water. The sensors are in communication with the transmitter.
Implementation Method 3
The transmitter transmits data on the conditions on a body of water on a real-time basis to at least one receiver. The receiver may be located over the horizon or in line of sight with the device.
Data Source
AI summary
An air deployable buoyant device for transmitting data on its location and the conditions in the air as it descends to the surface of a body of water, and on conditions on a body of water on a real-time basis is disclosed. The device includes a buoy and a plurality of sensors and a transmitter associated with the buoy. The transmitter transmits data on the location of the device and the conditions in the air and on a body of water on a real-time basis to at least one receiver. The receiver may be located over the horizon or in line of sight with the device. The sensors are in communication with the transmitter, and each sensor measures at least one condition in the air and/or on a body of water to assist in locating a person in the water and provide information on the water conditions to a rescue team. Methods of deploying and using the buoyant device are also disclosed herein.