A method for extracting a rescue subject from a surface position includes lowering a rescue pod having an enclosed compartment with a door from an aircraft, the rescue pod having a parachute and a control system, the rescue pod connected by a tether to a winch in the aircraft, controllably releasing the tether from the winch while maneuvering the aircraft into an orbit at altitude, diameter and airspeed, creating a gravity well in which the tether describes a spiral configuration with the pod descending along a vertical centerline, lowering the pod to the surface position, loading the rescue subject into the enclosed compartment, and lifting the rescue pod from the surface position by retrieving the tether with the winch or altering the path and speed of the aircraft, in a manner to gradually increase tension in the tether lifting the rescue pod from the ground point.

Drowning causes many fatalities all around the world. Human rescuers are too slow, are not buoyant enough, and often fail to notice drowning victims. In contrast, drones with artificial intelligence can quickly provide drowning victims with a personal flotation device. A drone can include a compressed gas tank to inflate a personal flotation device and can deliver the personal flotation device to a person who is in danger of drowning.

Drowning causes many fatalities all around the world. Human rescuers are too slow, are not buoyant enough, and often fail to notice drowning victims. In contrast, drones with artificial intelligence can quickly provide drowning victims with a personal flotation device. A drone can include a compressed gas tank to inflate a personal flotation device and can deliver the personal flotation device to a person who is in danger of drowning.

An inline for an inflatable assembly may comprise a first end defining a primary gas inlet and a second end defining a primary gas outlet. An internal surface may define a flow path extending from the primary gas inlet to the primary gas outlet. An orifice may be located between the first end and the second end. The orifice may be defined, at least partially, by a radial wall extending from the internal surface to the external surface. The orifice may be configured to entrain ambient air with a primary gas flowing from the primary gas inlet to the primary gas outlet.

A rescue system includes a wearable article, such as a wristband, which includes a radio frequency identification (RFID) tag, a radio frequency (RF) beacon, and a power supply. One or more RFID readers (collectively, an RF network) are located on a vessel, the RFID readers being configured to communicate with the RFID tag. Should the RF network detect a passenger overboard event, a modular rocket system is deployed. The modular rocket system comprises a guidance module, the guidance module including a guidance system for guiding the modular rocket system toward a target. A flight control module is removably attached to the guidance module, said flight control module including a plurality of airfoils. A flotation module is removably attached to the flight control module, said flotation module including a flotation device. A rocket motor module removably attached to the flotation module, said rocket motor module including a rocket motor configured to propel the modular rocket system.

A rescue system includes a wearable article, such as a wristband, which includes a radio frequency identification (RFID) tag, a radio frequency (RF) beacon, and a power supply. One or more RFID readers (collectively, an RF network) are located on a vessel, the RFID readers being configured to communicate with the RFID tag. Should the RF network detect a passenger overboard event, a modular rocket system is deployed. The modular rocket system comprises a guidance module, the guidance module including a guidance system for guiding the modular rocket system toward a target. A flight control module is removably attached to the guidance module, said flight control module including a plurality of airfoils. A flotation module is removably attached to the flight control module, said flotation module including a flotation device. A rocket motor module removably attached to the flotation module, said rocket motor module including a rocket motor configured to propel the modular rocket system.

A rescue basket having the capacity to safely hold two full-sized individuals increases the efficiency and effectiveness of helicopter water rescue and recovery operations. The rescue basket includes an open end, which affords an additional option for loading passengers, along with a door mechanism that can at least partially close off the open end for passenger safety. The rescue basket includes a flotation system that maintains the basket at a desired flotation level when completely immersed in water, along with sufficient reserve buoyancy to safely maintain the passengers above water when loaded. Methods of performing a water rescue utilizing the present rescue basket on board of a helicopter are also provided.

A rescue basket having the capacity to safely hold two full-sized individuals increases the efficiency and effectiveness of helicopter water rescue and recovery operations. The rescue basket includes an open end, which affords an additional option for loading passengers, along with a door mechanism that can at least partially close off the open end for passenger safety. The rescue basket includes a flotation system that maintains the basket at a desired flotation level when completely immersed in water, along with sufficient reserve buoyancy to safely maintain the passengers above water when loaded. Methods of performing a water rescue utilizing the present rescue basket on board of a helicopter are also provided.

Disclosed is a pneumatic inflation valve assembly, having: a valve housing defining a valve cavity and including an axial proximate end and an axial distal end, the proximate end including an outlet from the valve cavity and the distal end including an inlet into the valve cavity, the proximate end includes a motion hole, the distal end includes a receiving volume; and a poppet is disposed in the valve cavity that includes an axial proximate stem extending through the motion hole, an axial distal stem is disposed in the receiving volume and is moveable within the valve cavity between an opened position and a closed position, when the poppet is at the opened position the distal stem extends further into the receiving volume than at the closed position, and the center body is axially spaced from the proximate end and the distal end of the valve housing.

A ship distress system that uses a location system associated with the ship and an unmanned aircraft in communication with the location system that continuously receives the location of the ship. The unmanned aircraft can be deployed from a launcher into the direction of potential rescuers so that the unmanned aircraft can provide the location of the ship in distress. The unmanned aircraft is launched in a collapsed position and then unfolds into an extended position after kinetic energy from the launch is lost to maximize the speed and distance that the unmanned aircraft can cover. The unmanned aircraft can includes a camera to search for and identify any third parties that can effect a rescue and is programmed to search for and communicate with a potential rescue vessels or bases after being deployed into the air.