Peter Loader with a floatation buoy that uses satellite technology to attract rescue crews.

Buoyed by success

BY DAVID MCCOWEN

20 Apr, 2010 04:00 AM

PETER Loader and Simon Lodge knew their rescue buoy would be a hit when they were able to track it travelling down the Kingsway.

The Cronulla engineers, who trade as Working Platforms Australia, left a rescue buoy prototype fitted with radio and satellite tracking beacons on Tom Ugly's Bridge, then went back to work.

"We left it there and went away,'' Mr Loader said."It activated our computer saying some bugger stole it! We saw it on Google maps driving down the Kingsway.''

They used an iPhone to track the buoy to a house. The pair then `rescued' it from the bewildered thief.

They will present the life-saving technology on the ABC's New Inventorsprogram on Wednesday night.

Mr Loader said the Global Positioning System Life Buoy is an $800 floatation aid that uses satellite tracking technology to help rescue crews find people lost at sea.

He said about 150 people fell from large ships each year, and three quarters were not found.

"Originally, we designed it for commercial boats, like cruise or container ships,'' Mr Loader said.

"If someone falls or jumps overboard the boat has to be able to find the life buoy and find the person. Now, as soon as this life buoy is out of its case it activates the [tracking beacon].''

Mr Loader said the team was motivated to add rescue beacon functions to life buoys following reports of rock fishing deaths and the theft of conventional floatation devices.

"84 per cent of them are stolen, according to the NSW Sportfishing Association,'' Mr Loader said.

"We thought that was annoying.''

Tracking signals in the buoys provide accurate locations to rescue crews and help police track down thieves.

Stephen Leahy, general manager for the Westpac Life Saver Rescue Helicopter service, said the tracking buoy was a good idea.

"The concept sounds exciting,'' he said. "It would be something we'd like to see in implementation.''

Mr Leahy said they would be ideal to prevent rock fishing drownings.

Mr Loader said the buoys were ready to be installed at sea-side locations and he hoped 50 would be installed on the eastern seaboard after an initial trial.

"We're not looking to make millions out of these,'' he said.

"If we save one life and the bloke buys us a beer we'll be happy.''

HOW IT WORKS

- The flotation buoy transmits satellite and wireless signals as soon as it is removed from its storage point and thrown to a person in distress

- The signals are intercepted by a ground control station, where trained handlers check its location to determine whether it was triggered by a genuine emergency or theft

- Rescue units and emergency services are then informed of the buoy's location

- Air and sea search teams track the buoy using hand-held GPS locating devices, including mobile phones, personal digital assistants and vehicle-based equipment

- Rescue teams recover the buoy and, hopefully, the person holding onto it.

Kind Regards
Peter
Mob. (+61)422 998 018

Activity ID#

313

One comment

Mark BASE jumping	21 Apr 2010
	www,workingplatformsaustralia.com.au