Project Ryptide – A Life Saving Drone Accessory

Gary Mortimer

Beneath seemingly calm waters sometimes lurks a deadly hazard, the riptide. These dangerous currents can pull a swimmer away from shore in moments. Many swimmers try to swim against the riptide; strength is quickly exhausted and the swimmers start to panic.

Trained lifeguards rescue more than 10,000 swimmers a year from riptides. However, a rip current is also a danger to the savior. These lifeguards are taking an enormous risk. This can be especially true if a rescue is required on a frozen lake, pond or river.

http://www.ripcurrents.noaa.gov/real_life.shtml

We are a group of high school students and we think we have an idea that could reduce some of that risk, and help keep a persons head above water when they need it most. Under the guidance of our mentor, we have refined this idea into a simple, inexpensive product that anyone can learn to use.

Our project started out of a Robotics course after our teacher introduced us to Bill Piedra who showed us what drones were capable of and explained how this amazing new technology is evolving fast.

We were fascinated by discovering that more than one million small drones are in use around the world today, and their primary application is aerial photography.

Mr. Piedra then challenged us to think of other applications for this emerging technology. Then the question was asked; if drones can carry cameras at the beach why can’t they carry a life preserver? As we began to tinker and experiment, Project Ryptide was born.