China uses robots to rescue drowning tourists

Chinese authorities have used robots to rescue drowning tourists, the first such operation in which robots play a vital role.

Used in a popular vacation spot

A Chinese news portal  reported that the tourist rescue operation took place in a popular holiday destination in Hainan province, and that drones were also used in addition to robots.

The Wanning City Emergency Management Department used this technology during the Spring Festival celebration.

Robots for water rescue

One of the pieces of equipment used in the rescue operation was a U-shaped robot. It is designed to quickly reach drowning victims or precisely deliver needed supplies.

According to Liu Jiao, a team member of Blue Sky Rescue (BSR), China's civil relief brigade, the robot eliminates potential shortcomings of humans and lifeboats, making it a much better alternative for rescue operations.

"Lifeboats or jet skis may break down in rough water, and rescuers may suffer physical exhaustion or even drown," Jiao said.

Meanwhile, the robot can be controlled remotely from shore, allowing it to reach hard-to-reach places that human rescuers would not be able to reach. 

It can also be used in swimming pools, reservoirs and rivers.

Although this rescue operation took place in Hainan province, robots are also being used to rescue people in Fujian and Guangdong provinces, two other coastal regions where such rescue operations are often needed.

Artificial Intelligence: New Opportunities and Applications

Artificial intelligence (AI) began its journey by performing only specific tasks, but the use of this technology is currently expanding at an incredible pace. 

The application of AI in drowning rescue operations is one of the latest and most interesting achievements in this field.

AI is also becoming increasingly popular in other areas. It is currently widely used on the Internet, for example, in automatically processing large amounts of data, optimizing searches, and even creating personalized recommendations that far outperform traditional search engines.

Due to these developments, major tech companies like Microsoft are testing new AI features that could become a serious competitor to tools like ChatGPT.