NetEase Smart News, August 28 — Australia’s iconic Gold Coast, a famous surfing destination located 43 miles off the country’s eastern coast, is set to introduce a new safety initiative. The area is planning to use artificial intelligence-powered drones to detect sharks and warn swimmers, aiming to prevent tragic incidents and keep people safe in the water.
Over the past two years, there have been 14 shark attacks in this humid subtropical region, resulting in two fatalities. In response, a project has been launched to deploy quadcopter drones that fly over the blue-green waters, capturing images and sending them to an AI-based recognition system. This technology helps distinguish between harmless marine life, like dolphins, and more dangerous predators such as sharks.
If a shark-like creature is detected, the drone will sound an alarm and release a life raft along with communication equipment for up to four people, allowing swimmers to quickly seek help. The drones are developed by the "Shark Spotter" project team, utilizing AI technology from the University of Technology Sydney (UTS) Research & Development team. The initiative is supported financially by the Western Pacific Banking Group based in Australia.
In the near future, the drones will wirelessly transmit live video footage to a ground computer for further verification. Looking ahead, the project aims to equip UAVs with onboard processors capable of real-time identification of potential threats underwater.
This initiative is seen as an additional layer of safety for swimmers. Professor Paul Scully, co-founder of the Shark Spotter project, told Reuters, “People have relied on traditional defense measures for years, but this project will serve as an important part of a layered defense strategy.â€
Current methods like helicopters and aircraft have only about 18% and 12% accuracy, respectively, in detecting sharks. However, drones have proven far more effective, achieving around 90% accuracy, according to a digital trend report earlier this year. The project started in 2016 when researchers from UTS captured over 8,000 images from coastal waters to train their smart computing systems.
Dr. Nabin Dean from the University of Technology Sydney explained, “This isn’t about replacing humans, but helping them work more accurately and efficiently.†He emphasized that while concerns about AI and automation are valid, this example shows how machine assistance can greatly benefit human lives.
The integration of AI into everyday safety measures marks a significant step forward in protecting both people and wildlife, offering a smarter, more proactive approach to ocean safety.
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Power electronics, DC to AC conversion, Frequency control, Voltage regulation, Phase synchronization
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