Emergency Integrated Lifesaving Lanyard (EMILY)- Unmanned Maritime System

EMILY is an Unmanned Maritime System (UMS) that has been under development for quite some time and is used for conducting rescue missions at sea.  This UMS is deployed most typically from a ship or rescue helicopter and acts as a type of buoy that can be guided near individuals requiring assistance in the water.  This pseudo-lifeguard is known as EMILY, for the Emergency Integrated Lifesaving Lanyard.  EMILY was designed by the Office of Naval Research in collaboration with inventor Tony Mulligan, and the Navy’s Small Business Technology Transfer (STTR) program.  

EMILY is a remotely controlled four foot long vehicle that weighs approximately 25 pounds.

The devices are made of Kevlar and aircraft-grade composites, are powered by a jet ski-like engine that allows them to travel up to 22 miles per hour, and come equipped with two-way radios, a video camera (exteroceptive sensor) with a live feed to smart phones and lights for night rescues (McCaney, 2016).  EMILY is tethered to a rope up to 2,000 feet long.  Designed to race through heavy surf, EMILY has proper balance for quick self-righting performance. The deep, 22 degree hull is designed to track straight during wave breaching. Highly durable, EMILY will survive impact at full speed or in surf with rocks, reef, or pilings. Use EMILY to provide flotation until a rescuer arrives, deliver life jackets, or pull a recovery rescue line up to 800 yards through strong currents and large surf (EMILY, 2015). 

There are few details regarding the proprioceptive sensors of EMILY but the plans to add additional exteroceptive sensors enhance the overall capability and functional ability of EMILY.  Next year’s model will have a doppler sonar to help it avoid high-speed collisions with unsuspecting swimmers (The Economist, 2010).  The company also plans to add acoustic exteroceptive sensors the listen for underwater movement along with a microphone and loudspeaker.  The doppler and acoustic sensors are most specific to a maritime environment. 

One disadvantage of EMILY is the inability for a incapacited swimmer to grasp on to the vehicle.  By utilizing range finding sensors and trajectory planning it might be possible to implement a retrieval system that captures a person and subsequently secures them to the remote controlled buoy.  This simple improvement, especially if able to perform robotic maneuvers sub-surface, might make a difference in saving lives.  Additional improvements can be made by utilizing an overhead Unmanned Aerial Vehicle (UAV) that can use either visual, infared, or LIDAR technology to locate struggling swimmers and map a recovery mission profile that can then be sent directly to EMILY in order to help it find and rescue more efficiently.  By utilizing a UAV the on-scene commander can maintain an “eye in the sky” that can best direct the recovery actions of one or numerous EMILYs. 

It is not always feasible to launch a manned platform into extremely dangerous seas.  By utilizing a vehicle such as EMILY the mission does not needlessly endanger additional lives when attempting to bring others to safety.  Additionally, in diverse cultures, a rescue swimmer can sometimes be attacked by a group or single individuals as they panic in fear of drowning.  An unmanned buoy allows a safe way of recovering individuals quickly and efficiently while minimizing undo risk to operators. 

Unmanned sensors rely on distance and range finding to best maneuver.  The software and processes involved make a multitude of minor changes and updates during the operation.  A manned platform relies on experience and visual cues with some exterior sensor interaction.  The difference is a manned platform operator must understand and process the information from the sensors, and then decide to react or ignore the inputs.  An unmanned platform has the process built into its programming to automatically perform based on the information being received from those sensors. 

EMILY is a simple UMS that can be used to rescue people that are having difficulty in water.  Its high speed and sensor suite make it an excellent tool to be used on most maritime ships.  Additionally, it is feasible to imagine a time when EMILY will be a regular resource at a beach.  With additional sensor improvements it is possible that EMILY can perform surveillance for deadly predators lurking in the waters near beaches.