At Marina and Besant Nagar beaches, drones and remote-controlled buoys will keep an eye on people.
What’s it about? Mounted police and lifeguards are keeping an eye on the beach due to pre-monsoon choppy waters. Now, AI-enabled drones and surface radar will help the coastal security group (CSG). Each drone will cover 3 km to detect anyone in distress. The CSG will also use its radar scanner to scan the sea close to the shoreline.
- The drones can withstand winds of up to 40 kmph, with the usual wind speed at the beaches being 7-13 kmph. The drone can reach the spot within a minute and drop a lifebuoy for a person until a boat arrives.
- It can transmit video and images till a boat or ship arrives. Officials are working with MIT to procure more of these drones as trials have been successful.
Additional measures: The CSG has deployed 40 police personnel at three locations at the Marina beach with jet skis and high-power boats. There’ll also be six watchtowers with drone launchpads close to the shore from the MGR memorial to the Lighthouse.