Gdańsk University of Technology students tested a rescue drone
Students from Gdańsk University of Technology tested the AV URWIS in open water for the first time. Tests of the unmanned surface vessel, which will support water rescuers in the future, took place on the lake on July 17th of this year.
Students tested the vessel’s structural integrity, propulsion system, maneuverability, and remote control system. The vessel navigated the water, turned, and responded to operator commands.
The URWIS AV is controlled via a GSM network. It is a proprietary application developed by students. Ultimately, the AV will autonomously navigate to a designated rescue site. The AV will avoid obstacles, and in the final phase of the rescue operation, it will be controlled by a lifeguard.
The students plan to equip the vessel with a towed life raft. A person awaiting rescue will be able to board the life raft.
The project is being developed by Maksym Domkowski, Julian Baron, and Łukasz Gede-Niewiadomski, students of the Faculty of Mechanical Engineering and Ship Technology at Gdańsk University of Technology.