Robotic boat sets sail to save lives on one of China’s deadliest lakes
Hi-tech vessel pinpoints potential victims by analysing data from cameras dotted around Swan Lake
A robotic boat designed to save people from drowning in one of China’s deadliest lakes has gone into service, Xinhua reported on Sunday.
The unmanned vessel works by analysing data from more than 20 optical and infrared cameras positioned around Swan Lake in Hefei, capital of southeastern China’s Anhui province. These monitor the water surface and in the event of someone getting into trouble can alert the boat to the person’s whereabouts.
A computer on board the vessel then calculates the quickest route and goes to the rescue, the report said.
Speaking at a launch event last week, Wang Xu, head of Hefei’s water police department, told China National Radio that the boat had been introduced in a bid to reduce the number of drownings at the man-made lake.