China’s Hangzhou tests an AI-piloted flying buoy for drowning rescues 🇨🇳 🚁

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On Xianghu Lake in Hangzhou, police put an unusual piece of kit through its paces: a buoy that can fly out to a drowning person on its own, guided by an onboard AI system.

How does the robot actually work? ⚙️

Nicknamed the « intelligent flying rescue robot, » the device can take off from shore the moment an alert comes in. An operator reportedly steers it from a control station until it nears the target, at which point the onboard AI is said to take over for the final approach, landing precisely and instantly cutting its propellers to stay stable — even as a panicked swimmer grabs onto the hull. Once rescuers arrive, it’s said to fly itself back to its launch point.

An automated rescue ecosystem 🤖

The flying buoy wasn’t the only device on display. Drones dropping inflatable buoys were reportedly tested too, alongside a scout-drone-and-unmanned-boat duo capable of locating and retrieving a swimmer, even at night. The setup reflects China’s broader bet: automation to shrink response times in situations where conventional boats simply arrive too late.

Praised, but not fully autonomous yet ⚠️

The demonstration was relayed by a spokesperson for China’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs, who praised the technology as lifesaving. Still, the device remains a support tool: it buys precious minutes before rescuers arrive, without replacing human expertise on the ground.

Would you trust your safety, even briefly, to an AI-piloted robot over a human lifeguard? Let us know in the comments.