WHY
Under current practices for rescuing swimmers at sea in Italy, the lifeguard is responsible for the operation and relies solely on a rescue boat. The problem with this situation is that the boat is usually slow and propelled solely by the lifeguard’s physical effort. This makes it difficult to ensure that the lifeguard reaches the swimmer in distress before it is too late, especially in the presence of strong waves and currents.

WHAT
Pelagus Seadrone serves as a means of support for rescuing swimmers in distress. It is radiocommanded, and it precedes the arrival of the traditional rescue boat, which will reach the person in need soon after. Thanks to its speed, it serves as an early means of rescue by allowing the swimmer to rest on this floating support. The drone is equipped with a camera, allowing the operator to better interact with the surrounding environment. The drone is also equipped with a speaker that allows the operator to talk to the swimmer via a microphone installed on the remote control. This feature can be useful for calming the swimmer and telling him that the rescue is arriving. Finally, a perimetral bumper prevents the drone from physically harming the user.

HOW
The concept for this drone was developed by incorporating the features that enable its key functionalities. However, further studies must be conducted to build a working prototype, including a buoyancy test to precisely determine the design and materials, as well as the development of radio-control software and electronic circuitry to operate the various components, such as the motors, the microphones, and the speaker.