Robotic Drowning Rescue System

Abstract

A system remotely monitors a potential drowning victim and remotely and passively detects one or more drowning indicia. Upon detecting one or more drowning indicia, the system acquires location coordinates of the victim and activates a self-propelled robotic submersible, which travels to the victim's location and uses one or more sensors to position itself directly below the victim in the body of water. When the sensors have confirmed the position of the submersible directly below the victim, the submersible initiates the rescue operation by lifting or floating the victim above the surface of the water. The submersible then transports the victim to an area where he/she can be resuscitated and receive medical attention.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A system for detection of and response to a drowning of a victim in a body of water, the system comprising;
 a detection device, which remotely and passively acquires victim data, comprising behavioral data of the victim, or biometric data of the victim, or a combination of both behavioral data and biometric data of the victim, and which generates a rescue initiation signal if the victim data matches one or more drowning indicia; and   a self-propelled, robotic, submersible rescue device, which responds to the rescue initiation signal by positioning itself directly below the victim in the body of water and either lifting the victim above the water or deploying a localized inflatable floatation device beneath the victim to float the victim above the water.   
     
     
         2 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the detection device uses microwave, infrared, optical, sonic, or ultrasonic observations and measurements, or a combination thereof, to acquire the victim data. 
     
     
         3 . The system of  claim 2 , wherein the rescue device has an upper platform upon which the victim is lifted above the water as the rescue device ascends from beneath the victim. 
     
     
         4 . The system of  claim 3 , wherein the rescue device ascends from beneath the victim to lift the victim above the water by expelling ballast from one or more ballast tanks within the rescue device. 
     
     
         5 . The system of  claim 2  wherein the floatation device is tethered to the rescue device, such that the rescue device can drag the floatation device bearing the victim through the water. 
     
     
         6 . The system of either  claim 4  or  5 , wherein the rescue device, after lifting or floating the victim above the water, transports the victim out of the body of water or to a border thereof, so that the victim can receive resuscitation and medical attention. 
     
     
         7 . The system of any one of  claims 1 - 5 , wherein the detection device uses biometric data to distinguish between different individuals in the body of water and to effect biometric identification and biometric tracking of the victim. 
     
     
         8 . The system of  claim 6 , wherein the detection device uses biometric data to distinguish between different individuals in the body of water and to effect biometric identification and biometric tracking of the victim. 
     
     
         9 . A method for detection of and response to a drowning of a victim in a body of water, the method comprising:
 acquiring victim data, comprising behavioral data of the victim, or biometric data of the victim, or a combination of both behavioral data and biometric data of the victim;   comparing the victim data with drowning indicia;   initiating a rescue operation if the victim data matches one or more drowning indicia;   effecting the rescue operation by positioning a self-propelled, robotic, submersible rescue device directly below the victim in the body of water and having the rescue device either lift the victim above the water or deploy a localized inflatable floatation device beneath the victim to float the victim above the water.   
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 9 , wherein the victim data is acquired using microwave, infrared, optical, sonic, or ultrasonic observations and measurements, or a combination thereof. 
     
     
         11 . The method of  claim 10 , wherein the rescue device has an upper platform upon which the victim is lifted above the water as the rescue device ascends from beneath the victim. 
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 11 , wherein the rescue device ascends from beneath the victim to lift the victim above the water by expelling ballast from one or more ballast tanks within the rescue device. 
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 9 , wherein the floatation device is tethered to the rescue device, such that the rescue device can tow the floatation device bearing the victim through the water. 
     
     
         14 . The method of any one of  claims 9 - 13 , wherein the rescue device, after lifting or floating the victim above the water, transports the victim out of the body of water or to a border thereof, so that the victim can receive resuscitation and medical attention. 
     
     
         15 . The method of any one of  claims 9 - 13 , wherein the detection device uses biometric data to distinguish between different individuals in the body of water and to effect biometric identification and biometric tracking of the victim. 
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 14 , wherein the detection device uses biometric data to distinguish between different individuals in the body of water and to effect biometric identification and biometric tracking of the victim.