Drowning accidents are a critical safety concern in aquatic environments due to the absence of immediate and automatic rescue mechanisms. The project presents the design and implementation of a Smart Automatic Water Rescue Belt capable of lifting a submerged person to the water surface without external assistance. The system is built around a microcontroller interfaced with a water contact sensor and a pressure sensor to continuously monitor immersion status and underwater depth. Upon detecting unsafe depth or prolonged submersion, the controller activates a relay-based switching circuit that drives a compact DC air pump or CO₂ solenoid valve. The pressurized air inflates a Thermoplastic Polyurethane (TPU)-based inflatable air bladder, generating sufficient buoyant force based on Archimedes’ principle to raise the user to the surface within a few seconds. The system is powered by a rechargeable Li-ion battery and includes a manual emergency activation switch for added safety. The proposed rescue belt is lightweight, wearable, cost-effective, and suitable for real-time drowning prevention in swimming pools, coastal areas, and flood-prone regions.
c et al. (Wed,) studied this question.