AI-powered drowning prevention system enhances water safety

Researchers from the Hefei Institutes of Physical Science of the Chinese Academy of Sciences have developed a high-tech drowning prevention and rescue system and introduced it to a scenic water area in Central China’s Henan Province on Oct. 25.

Developed by Dr. Yu Daoyang’s team, this AI-driven system integrates artificial intelligence, robotics, and big data to provide continuous monitoring, early warnings, and autonomous rescue, that aims to significantly reduce drowning risks.

Drowning prevention has become an urgent public concern. The key is early warning and timely rescue. Traditional rescue methods often rely on human lifeguards, who may struggle with limited visibility, large coverage areas, and response inefficiency.

The newly developed AI-based approach overcomes these challenges by offering constant, precise surveillance and faster response, making it a promising solution for water safety at large public sites.

The system features more than 100 optical and thermal cameras to ensure 24/7, high-definition surveillance across key water zones, allowing real-time detection and assessment of even minor movements on the water’s surface.

Using intelligent image recognition, the system alerts operators when individuals enter restricted zones or show signs of distress, quickly calculating their exact location and initiating rescue actions.

Autonomous rescue boats, called Unmanned Surface Vehicles (USVs), play a central role by navigating directly to the affected individuals using precise coordinates. These USVs are guided remotely at first, then switch to full autonomy as they near the target, performing swift rescues with minimal human intervention. This seamless transition, combined with adaptive tracking technology, enhances reliability and speed.

This new system offers a new model for water safety and highlights the potential for technology to safeguard lives, according to the team.