Robotic ‘Lifeguard’ Proves Its Worth

Recently, some 300 Syrian immigrants nearly drowned in the Aegean Sea. EMILY – a remote-controlled “lifeguard” that was developed by the Office of Naval Research, rescued them. Short for Emergency Integrated Lifesaving Lanyard, Emily can operate effectively in harsh conditions – including 30-foot waves, riptides, rocks and reefs. Each EMILY weighs 25 pounds and is powered by a propulsion system akin to that of a jet ski. Colored brightly in red, orange and yellow, EMILY can cruise at 22 miles per hour and carries a payload including two-way radios, a video camera capable of feeding smart phones with data, and a light for night searches. Since the project’s inception in 2001, some 260 EMILY devices now are in use in countries around the world.