Advanced Human Rescue Water Robot

Abstract

The design and development of a simple remote-controlled (RC) robot for use in water-based human rescue operations in lakes, rivers, and seas is the main goal of this project. An RC transmitter is used to manually control the robot\'s movements, enabling smooth forward, backward, and directional turning. It’s buoyant and waterproof body guarantees stability and floatation while in use, and its waterproof motors and effective propellers provide dependable propulsion. A rope, flotation buoy, or towing mechanism are examples of optional attachments that can be added to the robot to improve rescue functionality. These attachments can be used to either pull victims toward safety or provide immediate flotation support until trained rescuers arrive. A rechargeable battery pack powers the system, allowing for prolonged operation and rapid recharging for repeated use in an emergency. With its emphasis on simplicity, robustness, and cost-effectiveness, this design ensures that it can be quickly deployed without the need for specialized technical expertise, in contrast to complex autonomous robots that require sophisticated sensors and artificial intelligence. The suggested RC water rescue robot provides an effective way to lower the risk of drowning, speed up reaction times, and assist human rescuers in aquatic emergencies by putting an emphasis on practicality, dependability, and ease of use.

Introduction

Water-related emergencies such as floods, shipwrecks, and drownings remain a major global threat, especially in regions with limited rescue infrastructure. Traditional rescue methods—relying on lifeguards, boats, and divers—are often slow, risky, and ineffective in harsh aquatic conditions marked by strong currents, poor visibility, and unpredictable weather. To address these limitations, the Human Rescue Water Robot is introduced as a low-cost, reliable, and easy-to-deploy solution capable of assisting victims quickly while reducing risk to human rescuers. Designed with a buoyant waterproof body, high-efficiency motors, and propeller-based propulsion, the robot can navigate rough waters and deliver flotation aids or towing support until professional rescuers arrive. Its simplicity, affordability, and user-friendly operation make it ideal for widespread use in emergency response and community safety initiatives.

Existing research in aquatic and hazardous-environment robotics shows significant progress in water rescue robots, IoT-based monitoring systems, borewell rescue mechanisms, and advanced navigation techniques such as RGB-D SLAM. However, many of these solutions are limited to specific environments like mines, borewells, or controlled lakes. Building on these studies, this project proposes an enhanced water-rescue robot that integrates autonomous navigation, IoT connectivity, and AI-based victim detection for effective open-water rescue operations.

The problem addressed is the persistent challenge of delayed rescue response and the high risk faced by human rescuers. Few robotic solutions exist for large open-water environments, making it crucial to create an intelligent, autonomous, and cost-effective system. The proposed robot aims to detect victims, navigate independently, and maintain communication with rescue centers, significantly improving survival chances.

The system is built using a master-slave wireless control architecture based on Arduino Uno. The master unit includes pushbuttons for commands, an HC-05 Bluetooth module for communication, a GPS module for tracking, and an OLED display for real-time system status. The slave unit receives commands through Bluetooth and actuates five servo motors using PWM control. Separate power management prevents voltage drops, ensuring stable operation. The software uses the Arduino IDE, and communication follows a reliable one-way protocol for low-latency control. A functional workflow also incorporates media processing and gesture recognition for future enhancements.

Implementation includes a prototype using LEDs to simulate robot actions, with GPS and Bluetooth-based control verified through testing. A buoyant foam-and-PVC physical model with motorized propulsion demonstrates structural feasibility. Results confirm stable wireless communication, precise servo control, and successful integration of sensors and display modules over a 10-meter range. The modular design enables expansion with advanced sensors, more powerful motors, and improved autonomy for future rescue applications.

Conclusion

This project effectively illustrated how to use Arduino Uno’s and Bluetooth communication to design and implement a reliable wireless master-slave control system. As an intuitive control centre, the master unit successfully combined environmental data from a GPS module, visual feedback from an OLED display, and user input from buttons. With the help of servo motors and a separate external power source for the actuators, the slave unit consistently converted commands into precise physical movements. The project successfully completed its objective of establishing a smooth workflow from wireless actuation to user input, offering a strong and expandable basis for increasingly complex robotic applications.

References

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Copyright

Copyright © 2025 Dr. B N Madhukar, Ramya P C, Sanjana D R, Ravutraya Biradar, Nagarjun J M. This is an open access article distributed under the Creative Commons Attribution License, which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original work is properly cited.