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Researchers in Iran created this autonomous flying machine that is designed to help people who are drowning at sea.

Developed by the Tehran-based RTS Lab it's called Pars. It is a multi-rotor drone that can carry and drop floatation aids to people in the water. The drone was able to provide a floatation aid to a dummy drowner in a recent test, some 75 meters from shore in 22 seconds. That's 50 seconds faster if a human lifeguard were to swim out.

The drone packs GPS and a raft of LED lights, and is capable of working at night too. And since this drone might prove useful as a first responder, why do we still need lifeguards? [RTS Lab via Robots.net via Verge]