China launches self-driving patrol boats to rescue people from drowning

Robotic speedboats now ply the waters of a large lake in China, which has seen multiple deaths from drowning over the years.

The autonomous watercraft is equipped with GPS, cameras, and acoustic and infrared sensors. 

It's aiding lifeguards at the Tian'e Lake in Hefei, eastern China, which receives tens of thousands of people each day during peak periods, according to park officials. 

The boat is designed to detect "moving targets" in a lake that has seen 15 people drown in 2016, according to state-run China Daily. 66 people drowned in total since the park along the lake was first inaugurated in 2004.  Read more...