A floatable robotic device designed in the United States is set to save lives overseas. On the Greek island of Lesbos, about 2,000 migrants arrive each day, according to the Christian Science Monitor, and many of them travel through rough waters and run the risk of drowning during their escape. To help, Hydronalix has created the Emergency Integrated Lifesaving Lanyard, dubbed Emily.
The 4-foot-long buoy - which is jet-powered and can travel up to 22 mph - is remote controlled and could rescue about five people in a single trip, reported the Christian Science Monitor. The robot can pull a rescue line that is up to 2,400 feet and its batteries last for 20 minutes, according to Popular Science. It also has a 5-foot-tall flag so it can be seen from long distances. Emily also works with Fotokites, which are camera-equipped drones that fly about 30 feet in the air and send images back, reported Wired.
"One has to be a little bit careful," warned M. Ani Hsieh, co-chair of the Safety, Security and Rescue Robotics committee, at the IEEE Robotics and Automation Society. "What many people who work with rescue robots will tell you is a lot of things start with good intentions." Hsieh said whether the device would be useful or not would be decided by further testing.
The Lesbos Coast Guard has invited a team from Texas A&M to conduct a 10-day pilot project using Emily, reported Newsweek. They should finish their tests later this month.
