Aurus, an AI-based self-driving robot, and AI monitoring system Triton are being used to augment life-saving capabilities on Goan beaches. The incorporation of AI-based support follows an increase in beach-related incidents due to rising domestic and foreign tourists on the coastline. The model was introduced by the state-appointed lifeguard organization Drishti Marine. 

 The sources state that there have been more than 1000 rescue incidents in the past two years along the coastal belt, which required assistance from the agency’s life savers. 

 Aurus is a self-driving robot. It assists lifesavers by patrolling extensive non-swimming zones and alerting tourists during high tide. The new addition with aid in increasing surveillance and crowd management on beaches. 

 The Triton system’s primary focus is to provide completely AI-based monitoring of non-swim zones, thereby altering tourists of the danger and notifying the nearest lifesaver. Aurus is currently deployed at Miramar beach in North Goa, while Triton is deployed at Baina, Velaso, Benaulim, Galgibag in South Goa and Morjim in North Goa. Furthermore, they intend to deploy 100 Triton and 10 Aurus units on the state’s beaches this year. 

According to a recent study, the state of Goa reports 200 deaths every year. Major of the facilities is reported on popular beaches particularly in the north, like Baga, Calangute, Arambol, Sinquerim, and Morjim. Until now, there were no effective measures to bring down this number. 

While robots have been used to clean beaches, those saving people from drowning have been in the works. WHO statistics state that drowning is the third learning cause of unintentional injury death worldwide, accounting for 7% of all injury-related deaths. This has been the cause of 236,000 deaths worldwide.  

This is not the first-time robots have been used to reduce drowning incidents. The Hindu had reported last year, Vishakapattnam conducted a demonstration of a robotic Lifebuoy, which helps in rescuing people from drowning.