Conceptual Design of High-speed Anti-flow Water Search and Rescue Vehicle

In recent years, unmanned rescue has received more and more attention due to the application of unmanned underwater vehicles. However, the complexity of the water environment, such as high current, low visibility, confined water, etc., makes the existing water rescue vehicle still requires a high degree of human intervention, and even the cooperation of the rescued person to complete an efficient and reliable rescue. This paper presents the design of a high-speed anti-flow Underwater Search & Rescue Vehicle (USRV) for water rescue operations. The proposed design utilizes vector propulsion to effectively address the challenges posed by rapid turbulence disturbances during rescue operations. Inspired by the rotary body design method of Autonomous Underwater Vehicles (AUVs), a low-flow drag profile is developed to enable rapid approach to distressed individuals while maintaining a stable attitude. Hydrodynamic analysis of the robot validates the effectiveness of the anti-flow design. In addition, an acoustic/visual perception system is integrated to enable the robot to dive underneath individuals and rapidly deploy airbags. Compared to other water rescue device designs, this innovative solution protects the lives of people in the water, regardless of their level of consciousness or mobility.