UAV Lifesaving Float Delivery System for Water Rescue
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Solution Overview
Problem
Rescue personnel face challenges in quickly and safely providing lifesaving equipment to individuals in distress in water hazards, especially in remote or hard-to-reach areas, due to environmental conditions and the risk of harm to both rescuers and the distressed individuals.
Innovation Solution
A system comprising an unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) equipped with a lifesaving float and a control device that allows for wireless communication and directional control, enabling the UAV to deliver the float to the distressed person and then secure it with a control line for retrieval, minimizing risk to rescuers and improving delivery precision.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If rescue personnel manually deliver lifesaving equipment to distressed persons in water hazards, then the equipment can be provided directly to the person in need, but the rescuers face significant risk of harm from environmental conditions such as heavy seas, frigid water temperatures, and fast moving currents
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces an unmanned aerial vehicle (drone) as an intermediary carrier to deliver lifesaving equipment to distressed persons. The drone flies above hazardous water conditions, releases the equipment (life jacket, flotation device, or rescue rope) to the person in distress, and avoids direct exposure of rescuers to environmental dangers while maintaining effective equipment delivery
Solution Approach 2:
The patent replaces the traditional mechanical rescue system (rescuers physically entering water or wading to deliver equipment) with an aerial delivery system using an unmanned vehicle. This substitution eliminates the need for rescuers to physically interact with hazardous environmental conditions while maintaining the core function of equipment delivery
2Reliability
If rescue personnel wait for professional safety officers to arrive at remote crash sites, then trained personnel can provide proper rescue assistance, but ground-based rescue personnel may not arrive for an extended period of time
Solution Approach 1:
The patent enables immediate deployment of unmanned aerial vehicles to remote crash sites without waiting for ground-based rescue personnel to arrive. The drone can be rapidly deployed from nearby locations, providing lifesaving equipment to distressed persons in the critical initial period before professional ground rescuers can reach the scene
Solution Approach 2:
The unmanned aerial vehicle serves as an intermediary rescue resource that bridges the time gap between the crash occurrence and the arrival of ground-based professional rescuers. It provides immediate assistance while professional safety officers are en route, preventing loss of critical rescue time
3Productivity
If untrained passengers or crew members provide aid to others after a water crash, then assistance can be provided immediately, but they may reenter an area of danger after reaching safety
Solution Approach 1:
The patent enables distressed persons to receive lifesaving equipment and attach it to themselves autonomously without requiring other passengers or crew members to physically approach them. The drone delivers the equipment to the individual, who then self-attaches the life jacket or flotation device, eliminating the need for untrained individuals to reenter dangerous water conditions
Solution Approach 2:
The unmanned aerial vehicle acts as an intermediary that enables assistance provision without requiring direct human-to-human contact in hazardous conditions. Passengers or crew members can operate the drone from safe locations, and the drone delivers equipment to distressed persons, preventing rescuers from exposing themselves to the same dangers
Data Source
AI summary
Various embodiments of the present invention comprise systems for providing a lifesaving apparatus to a distressed individual. Such systems may comprise an unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) configured to selectably support a lifesaving apparatus. The UAV may comprise a release mechanism configured to release the lifesaving apparatus when proximate a distressed person. The system may additionally comprise a control device configured to wirelessly communicate with the UAV such that a user can pilot the UAV from a distance and deliver the lifesaving apparatus to a distressed person. Methods of using the same may comprise piloting the UAV proximate a distressed person, providing a signal to the UAV to release the lifesaving apparatus by operating the release mechanism, and then pulling the lifesaving apparatus and the distressed person to safety via a control line secured to the lifesaving apparatus.