Gallery: Hydronalix EMILY

Ten times faster than a speeding lifeguard

Published Nov 17, 2009 3:13 AM

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EMILY is a four-foot-long, remote-controlled rescue buoy.

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It can zip across choppy waves at up to 26mph.

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That 26mph speed means it can reach a drowning victim about 10 times as fast as any swimmer.

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It’s powered by an electric motor and a Jet Ski-type impellor that pulls water in and ejects it out the back.

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Lifeguards remotely steer the craft to its target and use an onboard camera and speaker to communicate with victims.