Unmanned Surfboard Sensing for Rip Current Detection and Rescue
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing technologies lack effective methods to detect and warn of dangerous swimming conditions such as rip currents and water contamination near shorelines, which can pose risks to swimmers without significant training or equipment.
Innovation Solution
A radio-controlled unmanned vessel equipped with optical, thermal, and acoustic sensors to detect and characterize hazardous conditions, providing visual and electronic alerts, and assisting distressed swimmers by navigating to their location and aiding in their rescue, while also monitoring water quality.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If traditional detection methods are used, then equipment complexity is reduced, but detection capability and reliability are insufficient for dangerous conditions like rip currents and water contamination
Solution Approach 1:
The system divides the detection task into multiple specialized sensor modules: optical sensors for visual detection, thermal sensors for temperature and rip current detection, acoustic sensors for swimmer distress detection, and water quality sensors for contamination detection. Each sensor type targets specific hazardous conditions, improving overall detection reliability while keeping individual sensor complexity manageable.
Solution Approach 2:
The unmanned vessel serves multiple functions: it detects rip currents, monitors water quality for contamination, locates distressed swimmers, and provides navigation assistance. By consolidating these diverse detection and rescue functions into a single multi-functional platform, the system achieves comprehensive hazard detection reliability without requiring separate complex equipment for each function.
2Measurement precision
If comprehensive sensor equipment is deployed, then detection precision and hazard identification accuracy are improved, but ease of operation deteriorates due to significant training requirements
Solution Approach 1:
The system automatically processes sensor data and generates hazard alerts without requiring manual analysis by operators. The optical, thermal, and acoustic sensors continuously monitor conditions, and the system autonomously identifies dangerous patterns such as rip currents or distressed swimmers, eliminating the need for highly trained personnel to interpret complex sensor readings.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent replaces manual detection and analysis operations with automated electronic sensor systems. Instead of requiring trained operators to visually scan and interpret water conditions, the system uses optical sensors for visual detection, thermal sensors for temperature anomalies, and acoustic sensors for distress calls, automatically converting physical phenomena into actionable alerts.
3Productivity
If manual rescue operations are used, then response time is reduced, but productivity and coverage area are limited
Solution Approach 1:
The system continuously patrols and monitors the water area before incidents occur, maintaining constant surveillance of rip current conditions, water quality, and swimmer locations. This preliminary monitoring enables the system to detect hazards and locate distressed swimmers immediately, eliminating the time required for manual search and assessment.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent replaces manual rescue operations with an autonomous unmanned vessel equipped with propulsion and sensor systems. When a distressed swimmer is detected through acoustic or optical sensors, the vessel automatically navigates to the swimmer's location and provides assistance, significantly increasing rescue productivity and reducing response time compared to manual operations.
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
Enhances beach safety by accurately identifying and alerting users to hazardous conditions, assisting swimmers in distress, and monitoring water quality, thereby reducing the risk of accidents and ensuring timely intervention.
Implementation Method 1
The vessel may include various optical, thermal, and acoustic sensors to detect dangerous conditions and to aid in distressed swimmer location
Implementation Method 2
The vessel may include various optical, thermal, and acoustic sensors to detect dangerous conditions and to aid in distressed swimmer location
Data Source
AI summary
A vessel includes a body, such as surfboard, that floats in water. One or more thrusters, and one or more sensors are provided on the body. A controller is configured to selectively activate the thrusters to cause the vessel to move along a path through the water, receive sensor data from the one or more sensors while the vessel is moving along the path, determine, based on the sensor data, whether a dangerous condition is present in the water; and output a warning when the dangerous condition is present in the water. For example, the collected sensor data may relate to locations and directions of currents in the water, the dangerous condition may relate to a rip current, and the warning may identify at least one attribute of the rip current. A map identifying a location of the dangerous condition may be generated and forwarded to other devices.