Remote-controlled aircraft and speed boat take part in sea rescue project

An unmanned aircraft and speed boat were deployed in a dramatic rescue of a sinking yacht at the mouth of Cork Harbour yesterday.

The remote-controlled vehicles, which were controlled by operators from consoles in a room at the National Maritime College of Ireland (NMCI) in Ringaskiddy, Co Cork, were part of a computer simulation for a EU-wide search and rescue research project.

The DARIUS project is working to provide unmanned platforms such as unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) like drones or helicopters, and unmanned surface vehicles (USVs) which operate on the surface of water, for search and rescue operations.