Tag Archives: raft

Lifesaver Drone comes with a built-in inflatable raft that deploys to rescue people at sea

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By combining the lifesaver tube with a drone, the LIFE DRONE from Hyunjun Choi can easily rescue people by keeping them afloat as well as transporting them to safety.

Building on what a drone is capable of doing, the LIFE DRONE is an amphibious rescue-device that can travel in air as well as on water. It comes with a unique format that allows it to go from your regular airborne quad-copter drone to a waterborne motor-raft whenever needed. The drone comes with a dynamic body that opens up to orient the propellers in an X formation to take to the skies. The base of the drone comes with an automatic inflating life-raft that deploys near the person who needs help. The drone then closes, going from an X-formation to an I-formation, and the propellers begin working underwater, to push the raft towards safety… along with the person on it.

The LIFE DRONE works quite like a life-raft, except it doesn’t need a human to throw it to the drowning person. Just ping the drone with the location of the person drowning and it takes off on its own. When it approaches the location, the inflatable raft automatically deploys and the drone descends into the water. Once the person climbs onto the raft, the drone then works almost like a motorboat, using the propellers to guide the raft to the nearest location of safety. It does this without requiring a lifeguard to jeopardize their life.

Although conceptual, the LIFE DRONE is an interesting idea that can definitely be built. Amphibious drones definitely exist, and with the LIFE DRONE, it’s just a matter of building out a drone that has enough power to carry itself in the air, and propel forward with the weight of a human on water. My guess is that the propellers and motors would be significantly larger if you had to build this out, and you’d need space for pressurized CO2 containers for the raft to deploy. That dynamic X-to-I format is interesting too (it reminds me of this drone concept), and I’d honestly love to see a robotics/drone company at least experiment with a prototype!

Designer: Hyunjun Choi

A Savior at Sea

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Multiple drownings occur every year due to man overboard situations…but with all the advancements in safety equipment, why is this till happening? Designer Corban Warrington’s findings revealed that time, poor visuals, human error and hypothermia were the leading contributors. His solution, the Guardian, addresses each of these issues in an effort to prevent drownings and save lives at sea.

The deflated raft is vacuum packed inside a capsule conveniently located at the back of the boat where t’s unobtrusive to the crew and easily accessible. In the event of a man overboard, a crew member may pull the pin of the capsule to release it using a compression spring, instantly deploying the raft into the water where it will self-inflate using a salt water activation system.

The raft has an elevated beacon that houses a water activated LED strobe light and Automatic Identification System (AIS) that allows crew members to know where the MOB is at all times. The elevated beacon houses LED strips that can be seen from 360 degrees all around. These ultra-bright LEDs flash a bright strobe light to allow for the raft to be visible in all weather conditions and especially at night.

Once the device has inflated and the victim has located the raft, they can climb inside where their body will stay elevated out of the water, reducing their energy exertion and preventing hypothermia while providing extra survival time. Additionally, the Guardian houses a thermal space blanket to increase the victims body temperature when needed. All these features combined, those at sea can rest assure they have the best possible chance of survival.

Designer: Corban Warrington

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Safe Haven at Sea

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The Duckweed Survival House is a floating emergency shelter designed to elevate survival rates and assist with rescues in disaster situations such as tsunamis and floods. An alternative to exposed life rafts, the enclosed design providers shelter from the elements and even large waves that have potential to overthrow or exhaust survivors. The weight underneath ensures the unit won’t tip over and is stabilizing in rough waters.

Designer: Zhou Ying, Niu Yuntao

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Sea Safety for Dummies

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HEXA, named for its 6-sided shape, is a revolutionary life-saving device for use at sea. Because the nature of ship accidents varies greatly, both crew and passengers will tend to panic even with extensive training. For these moments, HEXA requires only that it be dropped in the water where it will automatically activate upon contact. 6 inflatable sections will self-inflate allowing individuals to climb on board or jump to safety. Additionally, an RFID signal will also be triggered for easy geolocation by rescue teams. Inside the center of the pod, users will also find survival supplies like food, flares and lifejackets.

Designers: Yoo JiIn, Lee Ji Sang

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