The Navy is investing heavily in unmanned systems, whether aerial vehicles, surface ships or underwater vessels, but it’s also interested in one of the basics of water safety—the lifeguard.

The Office of Naval Research has co-developed a robotic lifeguard called EMILY, for the Emergency Integrated Lifesaving Lanyard, a four-foot-long, 25-pound remote-controlled buoy that recently was used in the rescue of almost 300 Syrians off of the Greek Island of Lesbos, ONR said in a release.

Image: https://defensesystems.com