Chinese scientists have created the first AI-driven robot lifeguard, capable of functioning without human intervention. This innovation has been tested at a riverside location in Luohe city, Henan province, and will be stationed there permanently. Developed by a team from the Hefei Institute of Physical Sciences, linked to the Chinese Academy of Sciences, the robot employs artificial intelligence, big data, and navigation and tracking technologies to operate continuously without human oversight. Equipped with an algorithm, a life-saving buoy, and a rescue arm, the lifeguard robot can identify drowning individuals and pull them out of the water if they cannot grasp its sides. Drowning is swift and often silent, with a critical rescue window of five minutes or less.

The robot, capable of reaching a victim faster than a human, could be crucial in saving lives. Configured to function within a specific stretch of water, the robot relies on a network of 100 optical and thermal imaging cameras for round-the-clock monitoring. The footage is analyzed by a server using an algorithm to detect distress, triggering the lifeguard's deployment when necessary.