AQUARESCUE BOAT

About the Project

Flood disasters create complex emergency situations in which victims may become trapped in areas that are difficult or dangerous for rescue teams to reach. Strong water currents, limited visibility, debris and unstable surroundings can increase the risk faced by human rescuers and may delay assistance. AquaRescue Boat was developed as a smart, automated prototype intended to support rescue operations during flood emergencies by combining autonomous movement, obstacle detection, victim detection, visual monitoring and an alert system. The project is aligned with Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) 3, 9 and 11, focusing respectively on good health and well-being, innovation and infrastructure, and safer and more sustainable communities. The prototype uses an ATmega328P-based Arduino controller as the main control unit, an ESP32-CAM with an OV2640 camera for live visual monitoring, an ultrasonic sensor for obstacle detection, a PIR sensor for detecting human heat or movement, an L298N motor driver, twin DC motors with propellers, a red LED and alarm system, a 4×AA battery pack, a breadboard and jumper-wire connections. The boat is constructed using lightweight polystyrene and reused materials, making the prototype relatively simple, affordable and easy to reproduce. During operation, the boat moves forward automatically while sensors continuously monitor the surrounding environment. When an obstacle is detected, the system changes direction using the motor system to reduce the possibility of collision. When a possible victim is detected, the red LED and alarm are activated to alert the rescue team, while the boat is designed to move towards the detected victim. At the same time, the ESP32-CAM provides visual monitoring to support observation of the rescue environment. Multiple testing sessions reported in the project materials demonstrated stable movement, obstacle detection and quick response. The prototype therefore demonstrates the feasibility of integrating commonly available electronic components into a compact rescue-support platform. However, the current prototype should be regarded as a proof-of-concept rather than a replacement for trained rescue personnel. Further development is required for GPS tracking, improved camera-based identification, remote control, stronger waterproofing, longer operating time, more robust navigation and larger-scale deployment. This extended abstract presents the problem addressed by AquaRescue Boat, its objectives, system architecture, methodology, operating sequence, component functions, testing observations, sustainability relevance, marketing and partnership strategy, limitations and future development. The project demonstrates how student innovation can connect engineering, disaster preparedness and the SDGs through a practical prototype designed around a clear social need.