Dolphin 1 - Remote Control lifesaving Buoy is designed to help swimmers in distress, the self-propelled Dolphin 1 is guided to where it’s needed by remote control.
Time is critical when rescuers are alerted to a swimmer in trouble, a surfer who’s taken a dive or a yacht guest who has fallen overboard. We’ve seen several crafty assistance devices over the years that are designed to help keep water babies afloat. The Dolphin 1 Smart Lifebuoy operates similarly to the latter, being thrown in the water and then propelling itself out to the person in distress. When an alert is raised that a swimmer is in trouble, the rescue team can toss Dolphin 1 in the drink. From the water’s edge, the motorized lifebuoy can then be powered on in the water using a handheld remote and directed to where it’s needed. Wireless operation range is reported to be up to 500 m (1,640 ft), and if the rescue craft is overturned by choppy waves, the remote operator can easily flip it back over from afar.
The bright orange plastic hull has a bumper to the front to minimize accidental impact injury and two fog lights in case of poor visibility. Each of the two propellers is enclosed in a metal casing to shield them from the flailing arms of victims, and to make sure they don’t get tangled up with debris or trailing plants.
Max speed is 15 km/h (9.3 mph) and battery life per charge is 30 minutes. It’s designed to be big enough so that an exhausted swimmer can lay on it like a bodyboard, grab hold of the ropes around the edge of the carry handles at the nose and be brought safely back to shore. The 119 x 85 x 20 cm (47 x 33.5 x 8 in) remote-controlled lifebuoy tips the scales at 13 kg (28 lb) and could also transport a lifeguard out to someone in trouble and keep them both afloat until a rescue boat arrives.