SAR drone uses AI to rescue drowning victims

The search and rescue drone is called ‘Aurora’ and uses artificial intelligence that can find drowning people during a shipwreck and then open itself up into a life raft.

“This is a robot with artificial intelligence and neurotechnology, which searches for people in the sea due to its ‘technical vision’. This is our development and our know-how,” Ivan Antsev, Candidate of Technical Sciences and Executive Director of Radar MMS, told Russia Beyond.

According to Antsev, the artificial intelligence of the drone is loaded with special neurons and data that identify people among the wreckage of ships in the water. “Our robot is already used by the Ministry of Emergency Situations,” Antsev added.

Detecting objects in low visibility

At the crash site, ‘Aurora’ is dropped from unmanned helicopters equipped with search locators, optical and electronic stations. The helicopter can take off and land on any unequipped sites. Additionally, it is able to detect any object, even in rain and foggy conditions.

Currently, the Radar MMS helicopter drones are used by Gazprom and Rosneft for search and rescue operations on oil and gas rigs in the open sea and for the search for new oil and gas fields on the shelf and under water.

Meanwhile, for the first time in New Jersey, a training exercise made use of manned aircraft and drones for first responder support after an emergency.