Autonomous search and rescue of in-water victims with unmanned aerial vehicles in marine environments

People unexpectedly in ocean water, from say a ship, is an emergency incident. The International Maritime Organization rules stipulate efforts must be applied to localize and rescue the victim(s). Usually, a timely response is difficult and the incident is discovered late. Additional time is required for the vessel to perform the man-overboard manoeuver (Williamson turn), localize the victim(s), muster the rescue crew, deploy a rescue vessel, and to perform the rescue itself. This is further complicated if the victims are in a sea state, hypothermic waters, or in the dark. They succumb by drowning from exhaustion, hypothermia or exposure. People are unexpectedly in the water due to: (1) work accidents (35-50%), (2) alcohol-related (25-35%), or suicides (20-40%). With very few exceptions, there are no autonomous in-water victim detection tools to localize the victims that are economical, rapidly deployable and quickly engaged while the ship turns around, etc.

The proposed concept of deploying an unmanned aerial vehicle with on-board intelligent search abilities and upon localization of the victim, deploys a buoyancy assist to the victim. This puts into play an immediate search to localize the in-water victims while the ship turns around, organizes its on-board rescue effort, etc. Otherwise the search does not start until the ship is 'on station' and is usually done visually at sea level. The proposed concept capitalizes on best use of time and resources in a situation where minutes make a life or death difference.

Given Canada's expansive coastlines and the time it takes to initiate land-based search and rescue efforts this tools would be of interest to Canadian marine search and rescue for cruise ships, Coast Guard ships, Department of National Defence ships, offshore rigs, larger fishing vessels, etc. The objective of this NSERC Collaborative and Research Development grant is to identify and address capabilities that are required for subject problem.