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New smart lifebuoy
P202430544
A researcher at the University of Alicante has developed a smart beacon buoy to improve the safety of bathers and yachters on our coasts. In this way, apart from delimiting bathing areas, it allows for a safe grip and the request for help in the event of an emergency or need for assistance. It is an invention with mechanical and electronic components, universal, expandable and energetically self-sufficient and, in order to take advantage of any previous investment already made, it can be installed on any current buoy for marking out beaches, bathing areas and coasts. The researcher is looking for companies and organisations interested in becoming technological partners for the manufacture and subsequent commercialisation of the solution.
MAIN ADVANTAGES OF THE TECHNOLOGY • It has a dual role: on the one hand, to provide a safe grip in order to gain buoyancy and use it as a support and, on the other hand, to help in case of emergency or indisposition. • It is a universal, versatile and adaptable invention because it does not require the purchase of any additional buoy to the existing ones, but it adapts to any type, shape and size of existing buoys. • Speed in requesting help by means of several processes that are activated in parallel: light signals, calling to 112 with geolocation and verbal communication. In this way, emergency services can attend to people quickly and increase the chances of saving lives. INNOVATIVE ASPECTS The invention has several innovative aspects that should be highlighted: • Versatility and adaptability because it is not necessary to acquire any additional buoy to the existing ones (optimising previous investments). • Use of emerging communication technologies (which provide the system with 24/7 service guarantees and optimal use of telecommunications resources). • Thanks to the modularity of the system, it is possible to incorporate other additional sensor devices that can be used, for example, to monitor sea conditions and water quality in scientific maritime studies (wind, temperature, humidity, solar radiation, CO2, turbidity, chlorophyll, plankton, detection of jellyfish or fish, etc.). APPLICATIONS It is primarily aimed at the maritime technology sector, more specifically companies manufacturing maritime safety devices.