The Central region is frequently heavily affected by storms and floods. In fact, there have been many cases where even rescuers are in danger when directly approaching victims. From these situations, the idea of a smart rescue device, operating independently to ensure safety for humans, has been sparked.
Mr. Do Xuan Huy - Deputy Head of the Faculty of Mechanical Engineering, Da Nang College - shared: "Based on previous projects such as "Loving Wheelchairs" or "0-dollar Supermarket", we recognized the urgent need for a rescue support device in the Central region. From there, the group came up with an idea and deployed the creation of a remote-controlled life buoy".
In terms of technology, the most outstanding point of this buoy is the use of composite materials. This type of material not only helps increase firmness, withstand strong waves but also has excellent corrosion resistance in the marine environment. With a characteristic U-shaped design, the buoy can easily approach victims and keep them stable on the water surface. The powerful engine system allows the buoy to glide quickly, even in complex flow conditions in flooded areas or rivers, streams, ponds and lakes.
The operating procedure of the device is also simplified so that anyone can use it after a few instructions. The operator only needs to stand on the shore or from a safe position, using a handheld controller to guide the buoy to the victim's position through radio waves with a operating range of up to 800m. This completely eliminates the risk for rescue forces when they do not have to directly swim out into the dangerous water.
One of the biggest barriers to equipping modern rescue equipment in Vietnam is the cost. Imported equipment with equivalent features is often very expensive, making it difficult to equip on a large scale. However, the products of teachers and students of Da Nang College have thoroughly solved this problem. It is expected that each "made in Da Nang" lifebuoy will only cost from 25 to 30 million VND - a reasonable cost for local rescue teams, beach management boards or flood center residential areas to access.
Mr. Ho Viet Ha - Principal of Da Nang College - affirmed: "We determine that the school's responsibility is not only training but also creativity to serve the community. For a coastal tourist city like Da Nang and the Central region full of sunshine and storms, natural disasters, this device is very meaningful. All components are available locally, making maintenance and production extremely convenient.
Not stopping at current successes, in the near future, floats will be integrated with AI cameras to process images. This feature is extremely important when operating in floodwater conditions or at night, helping drivers clearly observe the victim's location through phone or tablet screens.
The group is researching self-driving technology combined with GPS positioning. Instead of having to manually control, the lifebuoy can automatically find its way to the coordinates of the person in need of rescue accurately and quickly. This will turn the lifebuoy into a real rescue robot, operating persistently for 2-3 consecutive hours, contributing to minimizing the painful losses caused by drowning and natural disasters.
