Increasing beach casualties during the peak season has been an alarming issue for lifeguards across the world. Providing a solution, British designer Adam Scott in collaboration with BSA (British Surfing Association) has designed an automated life saving system for beach lifeguards that promises better surveillance and minimizes causalities in coastal areas. Dubbed “Mantra,” the beach rescue system lies on the seabed during peak season, just off the coast, and uses small hairs on its surface to collect and store sustainable energy from tides and waves, known as “Super Cillia Skin.”
It detects distress and drowning, using electro sensors and sonar, to monitor or sense the heartbeats and movements of the victim. When a casualty is detected, it swims up to 15mph, thanks to the SMAs in the wings, and picks up the victim carefully onto an built-in stretcher to be carried on top of the water with the help of hydrofoils and impellers. The Mantra is always in constant communication with lifeguards and meets them at a specific beach location to move the victim to the hospital through ambulances.
After the stretchers are replaced, the Mantra can take its position at sea once again. The whole process of monitoring and rescuing just take about two minutes. Finished with polypropylene, carbon fiber, stainless steel, dyneema plastic, shock absorbing foam and PVC, the Mantra is not just lightweight and durable, but also allows a low energy travel.
[Cheers Adam]
