2633results about "Life-saving" patented technology

A process and system for detecting the presence of a person overboard including: setting the perimeter of an area to scan, scanning said area 180 degrees in azimuth utilizing a laser beam for receiving a reflection of said laser beam off said person, detecting said reflection and playing back a video recording of said trajectory of the person, wherein the area above and below the perimeter of an area to scan is continuously video recorded and wherein upon detecting the target, one or more of audio and visual alarms alert that crew, and wherein an alarm with location is sent to PDA system with GPS coordinates time and date. Additionally a launched deploys a device to track the person overboard, and allows persons on the ship or in a control center to ascertain the location of the person overboard.

A personal alarm system includes a monitoring base station and one or more remote sensing units in two-way radio communication. An electronic handshake between the base station and each remote unit is used to assure system reliability. The remote units transmit at selectable power levels. In the absence of an emergency, a remote unit transmits at a power-conserving low power level. Received field strength is measured to determine whether a remote unit has moved beyond a predetermined distance from the base station. If the distance is exceeded, the remote unit transmits at a higher power level. The remote unit includes sensors for common hazards including water emersion, smoke, excessive heat, excessive carbon monoxide concentration, and electrical shock. The base station periodically polls the remote units and displays the status of the environmental sensors. The system is useful in child monitoring, for use with invalids, and with employees involved in activities which expose them to environmental risk. Alternative embodiments include a panic button on the remote unit for summoning help, and an audible beacon on the remote unit which can be activated from the base station and useful for locating strayed children. In another embodiment, the remote unit includes a Global Positioning System receiver providing location information for display by the base station.

A Personal Locator Beacon (PLB), supporting two operation modes local monitoring and remote monitoring. The apparatus includes a PLB that supports the present operation mode, as well as a local monitoring mode, employing the same transmitter, and automatically switching between modes. Upon activation, the PLB first tries to communicate with a local monitoring station, at a low transmission power, and at a high repetition rate, in purpose of dealing with the PLB call locally, without involving the remote monitoring station. Then, if not acknowledged by a local monitoring station, the PLB increases its transmission power, enabling access to a remote monitoring station. In a preferred embodiment, the PLB is carried by a person onboard a vessel, to alarm upon a Man Overboard (MOB) accident, the local monitoring station is installed onboard the same vessel, and the remote monitoring station is part of a satellite Search and Rescue (SAR) system, as Cospas-Sarsat.

A configurable, adjustable inflatable device including one or more inflatable bladders and a shape-defining membrane that combines with the inflatable bladders such that an overall shape of the configurable inflatable device is at least partially controlled by the shape-defining membrane, and wherein the overall shape of the configurable inflatable device is substantially different from an inflated shape of inflatable bladders alone. The configurable adjustable inflatable device may include a covering layer that may partially or completely surround the inflatable bladders and may attach to the membrane or the inflatable bladders. The level of inflation of the inflatable bladders may also be controlled, further adding to the adjustability of the inflatable device.

The present invention discloses a communication system and method for determining and recording the geographical location of an object attached with a short range wireless device, over a wide area, in a vicinity of a radio beacon that can be located by a remote control station, upon establishing or interrupting a wireless connection between said wireless device and said radio beacon. One embodiment of the invention relates to a system for search and rescue of a man overboard (person overboard), a quite frequent and fatal accident at sea.

The invention relates to a life buoy that can be used especially in the event of an avalanche, said life buoy comprising at least one envelope that can be inflated by inflation means including a pressurised gas generating cartridge and means for emptying the buoy. The envelope is a single compartment which completely surrounds the head of the user and covers at least part of the thorax of the user.

An emergency position information radio beacon utilized in conjunction with a global positioning system that receives latitude and longitude information continuously in which the GPS data is periodically transferred into the EPIRB before activation in order to preserve battery power in the EPIRB. The EPIRB includes a first micro controller that is connected by an electro / optical data input to the GPS with the first micro controller being a very low power drain. Periodically, such as every 10 minutes, latitude and longitude information is transferred from the GPS into the EPIRB memory after which the EPIRB memory and system is maintained in a sleep mode with no power consumption. This insures that the EPIRB has geographical position information data before activation that can be transmitted with the emergency signal to search and rescue at the same time preserving the battery power of the EPIRB which is utilized only during the emergency period. The system is power off 99.99% of the time preserving the EPIRB battery.

The present invention relates generally a method and apparatus for adjusting the buoyancy of towed seismic arrays comprising a plurality of streamers and specifically to the dynamic buoyancy control of the buoyancy of a towed array of streamers by means of applying current to electroactive polymers (EAP) incorporated within the towed array of seismic streamers. The bulk density of the streamer array is electrically altered to accomplish neutral buoyancy for a towed array of streamers within the full range of water-densities from fresh to extremely dense seawater.

An interpersonal towing system deploys two or more harnesses each worn by an individual, each harness connected to opposing sides of a highly elastic towline that is protected by a durable fabric cover. The harnesses are configured for detachable connection to the towline via a pair of loops or rings fixed at upper pelvis level at both the front and rear of each harness. The system is suitable for either person assisting the other to traverse difficult terrain with great efficiency yet without damaging the highly elastic towline.

The present invention is related to a wearable airbag system applied for protecting a human on a vehicle. The wearable airbag system may include a wearable airbag module and a measurement module. The wearable airbag module may include an airbag configured to expand the volume of the airbag if the airbag is inflated and an inflator configured to be coupled with the airbag and generate a gas to inflate the airbag. The measurement module may be configured to measure a condition of the vehicle and control the inflator to inflate the airbag if the condition achieves or exceeds a limitation.

The invention is directed to an airbag system and, more particularly, to such a system employed as a rescue or life-saving system to enable a person to survive an avalanche. In a particular embodiment, the invention relates to an airbag system utilized with a backpack to be worn by a skier, snowboarder, hiker, or snowmobiler, for example. Instead of relying upon compressed gas cartridges or cylinders to inflate the airbag(s), the invention inflates the airbag(s) with ambient air only. In a particular embodiment, air is supplied to the airbag by means of a battery-powered electrical motor.

An assembly and a method for stowing away and removing a survival kit in a passenger cabin of an aircraft, comprising a first stowage compartment that may be put in place in a floor of the passenger cabin, wherein the first stowage compartment is equipped for completely accommodating the survival kit and for leading out a hook that is connected to the survival kit by way of a strap, which hook is used for hooking the survival kit to an attachment means of a rescue device with the first stowage compartment remaining closed.

The invention provides a backpack-type protective airbag device; acceleration changes of the body in all directions are detected based on a tri-axial gyro acceleration transducer, a body state of impeding falling down is calculated by a microcontroller control system; meanwhile, whether the body reaches a state of falling into water is detected by a pressure transducer, and, when the system determines that the body reaches the state of impeding falling down or falling into water, airbags arranged inside a backpack and a backpack strap are opened to protect critical organs of the body; and the body is effectively protected against the accidents of falling, impact, drowning and the like. The airbag device can be reused, has beautiful appearance and is easy to carry and simple to use.

A personal safety system is disclosed. The personal safety system comprises: a personal safety device and a base unit coupled over a local communications link; transceiver logic operable to transmit a periodic status message and an acknowledgement message generated in response to each received status message between said personal safety device and said base unit over said local communications link; and alert logic operable, in the event that said transceiver logic indicates that a number of either of said status and acknowledgement messages fail to be transmitted between said personal safety device and said base unit, to activate an alarm mechanism on both said personal safety device and said base unit. Accordingly, the member of crew wearing the personal safety device will detect the alarm mechanism activating and be provided with the assurance that a similar alarm mechanism is activating on the base unit.

A propulsive force controlling apparatus controls a propulsion system attached to a hull of a marine vessel. The propulsion system includes a motor, a propulsive force generating member which receives a torque from the motor to generate a propulsive force, a clutch mechanism which is switched between a coupling state which permits transmission of the torque from the motor to the propulsive force generating member with virtually no slippage and a decoupling state which prohibits the transmission of the torque from the motor to the propulsive force generating member, and a clutch actuator which actuates the clutch mechanism. The propulsive force controlling apparatus includes a target propulsive force acquiring section which acquires a target propulsive force to be generated by the propulsion system, and a clutch controlling section which controls (via intermittent coupling control, for example) the clutch actuator on the basis of the target propulsive force acquired by the target propulsive force acquiring section.

A secure life jacket container assembly includes a hollow container defining a storage volume which receives a life jacket in a packed condition. A cover is attached to the container with a tamper-evident sealing material. Removal of the cover causes an irreversible change in the sealing material which provides an indication that tampering has occurred.

There is provided an aerosol generating system comprising: a storage portion for storing an aerosol-forming substrate, an aerosol generating element for generating an aerosol from the aerosol-forming substrate, control circuitry in communication with the storage portion, and disabling means within the storage portion for rendering the storage portion inoperable in the aerosol generating system in response to a disable signal from the control circuitry. There is also provided a method in an aerosol generating system comprising a storage portion for storing aerosol-forming substrate, an aerosol generating element for generating an aerosol from the aerosol-forming substrate, control circuitry in communication with the storage portion and disabling means within the storage portion configured to render the storage portion inoperable in the aerosol generating system in response to a disable signal from the control circuitry, the method comprising: sending a disable signal from the control circuitry to the disabling means following a determination that an amount of the aerosol-substrate in the storage portion is below a threshold level or following a determination of a malfunction in the system.

A personal alarm system includes a monitoring base station and one or more remote sensing units in two-way radio communication. An electronic handshake between the base station and each remote unit is used to assure system reliability. The remote units transmit at selectable power levels. In the absence of an emergency, a remote unit transmits at a power-conserving low power level. Received field strength is measured to determine whether a remote unit has moved beyond a predetermined distance from the base station. If the distance is exceeded, the remote unit transmits at a higher power level. The remote unit includes sensors for common hazards including water emersion, smoke, excessive heat, excessive carbon monoxide concentration, and electrical shock. The base station periodically polls the remote units and displays the status of the environmental sensors. The system is useful in child monitoring, for use with invalids, and with employees involved in activities which expose them to environmental risk. Alternative embodiments include a panic button on the remote unit for summoning help, and an audible beacon on the remote unit which can be activated from the base station and useful for locating strayed children. In another embodiment, the remote unit includes a Global Positioning System receiver providing location information for display by the base station.

An all-weather maintenance system for an offshore wind turbine maintenance program includes a maintenance capsule for transporting tools, parts and maintenance personnel to and from respective wind turbine towers, a maintenance vessel with a capsule support apparatus for transporting capsules supported on board by the capsule support apparatus to and from respective wind turbine towers, and a crane assembly with a trolley for transporting capsules between the respective wind turbine towers and the maintenance vessel.

There is elucidated a safety system for a marine vessel. The vessel includes two engines coupled to propellers for propelling the vessel through water. The vessel is provided with a digital anchor in communication with the two engines for maintaining the vessel substantially at a defined location when the anchor is activated. The safety system includes a sensor assembly coupled to a data processing assembly for sensing a region of said water at least partially surrounding the vessel for detecting one or more persons present in the region and for modifying operation of the digital anchor is response to the one or more persons being detected. The invention is of advantage in that the digital anchor is capable of responding to the one or more persons being present in the water and thereby reducing a risk of injury or loss of life when the digital anchor is employed.

The invention discloses a swimsuit type anti-drowning intelligent life jacket. The swimsuit type anti-drowning intelligent life jacket comprises a swimsuit type life jacket body, air bags, air tubes and an air storage bottle. The air bags and the air storage bottle are connected through the air tubes. The air bags, the air storage bottle and the air tubes are fixedly arranged on the life jacket body. Electromagnetic valves are arranged at the joints of a bottle opening of the air storage bottle and the air tubes. The life jacket body further comprises an intelligent controller. The intelligent controller is connected with a drowning induction switch on swim goggles through a wire. The intelligent controller comprises a single-chip microcomputer, a drowning inductor, a power module, a pressure sensor, a sound-light alarm, an electromagnetic valve controller, an operating display screen, a GPS positioning module and a satellite communication module or mobile phone communication module. The single-chip microcomputer controls the electromagnetic valves to be switched on according to time of the drowning induction switch immersed in water, and the air storage bottle inflates the air bags. Meanwhile, the sound-light alarm gives out sound and light, and the satellite communication module or mobile phone communication module sends rescue signals and geographic position information outside.

Methods and compositions which can reduce the disturbance to wild life caused when man attempts to interact with wild life and more particularly methods and compositions which can enhance the interaction of man with aquatic life with minimal disturbance to the aquatic life.

The invention relates to an emergency light device for marine use comprising a housing accommodating an electronic circuit, a least one transparent dome, and a first and a second shell member, said electronic circuit comprising at least one light emitting diode provided in the at least one transparent dome, an electrical power supply comprising at least one battery of the AA, AAA or AAAA type, and at least one operating switch, said emergency light characterized in that the housing has a width which is substantially larger than the height, preferably the width is at least double or triple the height.

Disclosed is an inflatable stretcher. The stretcher is stored in a deflated state within a frangible outer covering. A lanyard is connected to the internal gas vessel via an “external to internal” mechanical link which does not violate the vacuum seal of the stretcher's outer covering. Pulling the lanyard activates the vessel to rapidly inflate the stretcher. This inflation causes an overpressure condition within the covering that results in a progressive tear and the eventual separation of the outer covering. The stretcher can thereafter be used to transport a patient.

A portable rescue device and a method for locating, by means of a first rescue device set in a search mode, a second rescue device set in a distress mode. In the method, a distress signal carrying a device identification is received from said second rescue device. A first bearing and a second bearing to the second rescue device are obtained. The first and second bearings are taken from a first and a second position, respectively. A distance between these positions is determined. A current distance and a current bearing to the second rescue device are determined on basis of the first and second bearings and the distance. The current bearing and the current distance are communicated to a user of the first rescue device. The portable rescue device is used for performing the method and for that purpose it includes a first communication unit for distress signal transmission and reception; a compass; a processor; a user interface; and a mode switch for switching between a search mode and a distress signal mode. The first communication device has an antenna structure that provides directional capability.

The invention relates to the fields of intelligent robot, in particular to a multi-axis propulsion water search and rescue robot. The multi-axis propulsion water search and rescue robot comprises a central control platform, at least three downward projecting brackets are arranged along the circumferential direction of the central control platform, hinge cable devices are arranged on each bracket, hinge cable devices are hoisted with foldable lifesaving net under the central control platform through cables, a power float device is also connected at the lower end of each bracket, a controller is arranged on the central control platform, and the controller is communicated with the hinge cable device and a power float device. The multi-axis propulsion water search and rescue robot has various motion modes, such as hovering, advancing, retreating and 360 DEG free steering in water, has high stability, has high ability to withstand wind and wave, and can be a good alternative to the traditional rescue way; meanwhile the design of the foldable lifesaving net realizes the purpose of fast and safe lifesaving, can realize multiple tasks such as water search and rescue, the water surface monitoring, the water measurement and control and the like in complicated water area and bad weather condition, practicability is high, flexibility is good and popularization prospect is good.