Automated Rescue Launch Canister System for EMILY

The EMILY rescue boat is currently deployed manually using a handheld remote control. The team’s objective is to automate the detection, deployment, and guidance of the boat in the vicinity of a coastal pier. The self-contained system will assist rescue personnel in unmanned waters or when visibility is low. The system also helps with ergonomics because throwing a 25-pound boat from a pier can be cumbersome. The design uses two infrared cameras on pan-tilt units that search the water in the desired target area. If image processing determines that someone is in the water, the lifeguard is alerted and the launch sequence initiated. Launch and control can also be conducted manually. The launch sequence extends actuators that hoist the enclosure from horizontal to the desired angle. The front door is opened, and the boat slides out on rollers. The navigation sequence assigns one camera to the person in the water and the other to EMILY. Steering and throttle commands are derived by comparing the coordinates of the person in the water with those of the boat. The system resets once EMILY reaches the person.