I'm pretty sure that quite a few of you (probably the older ones) can still remember the show that made Pamela Anderson (as well as a bunch of other people) famous, namely Baywatch. Well, beside the fact that this show might be getting ready for a comeback (rumor has it), it seems that real-life situations are a lot more dramatic (and somewhat Sci-fi) than the actual TV programe.

And why do I say “Sci-Fi”? Well, quite simple actually, because it seems that Baywatch-type lifeguards might actually be replaced in the future with robots, which will be able to carry out more or less the same tasks without putting anyone's life in jeopardy.

According to Popsci, EMILY (which stands for EMergency Integrated Lifesaving lanYard) is already at work patrolling the more dangerous places along the Malibu coastline and looking out for any potential drowning victims. For the time being, EMILY's got a human partner (in other words, it's remote-controlled by a human operator), but in the future, it will work completely autonomously.

As you can see from the photo, the device in question looks a lot like a surfboard fitted with some extra-accessories, and, in fact, that's exactly what this thing is. Plus, EMILY's got quite a few advantages over human lifeguards, probably the most important being the fact that it doesn't get tired and can be used in just about any type of weather, its electric drives allowing it to reach a top speed of about 28 miles per hour even in bad weather.

Furthermore, the robot will also double as a flotation device, while the built-in speakers will allow people on the ground to communicate with the person hanging on to the mechanical rescuer.

All-in-all, EMILY might have a very bright future in many parts of the world, especially since the price-per-unit ratio is quite an interesting one (just around 3,500 US dollars), according to the company developing it, called Hydronalix.


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