LGE Tech Blog

EPISODE 9. ALTERNATIVE RESCUE SYSTEMS

Not all water safety solutions are based on computer vision. There are a number of alternative approaches.

The first class of such systems are wearable devices for visitors. They can be in the form of a bracelet or a special sensor that reacts to prolonged immersion. If a person stays underwater longer than the permissible time, the device sends a signal to the central control panel.
The advantage here is obvious: there is no need to analyze the image, the system works directly with the fact of being underwater. But there are also disadvantages to this approach: visitors have to wear an additional device, which is not always convenient or pleasant. In addition, such systems are more suitable for swimming pools, where it is easier to ensure that everyone is equipped with sensors.
The second class of solutions is underwater cameras. They do not use neural networks, but simply record the appearance of an object at the bottom of the pool. As soon as the camera detects a silhouette, the system sounds an alarm. Such solutions are known for their high accuracy: there are practically no false alarms, because the immersion of a body to the bottom is an unambiguous event. But there are also drawbacks: installation is expensive, a lot of equipment is required, and underwater maintenance is complicated.
Thus, each technology has its pros and cons. Wearable devices provide direct control, underwater cameras ensure accuracy, and computer vision with neural networks allows for large-scale and flexible operation. In practice, different approaches are increasingly being combined to maximize reliability.