France tests AI-powered rescue drones to save drowning swimmers

French technology and maritime safety authorities have begun field trials of autonomous drones equipped with artificial‑intelligence vision systems to detect swimmers in distress along the Mediterranean coast. The drones, developed by the startup Instadrone, use thermal cameras and computer‑vision algorithms to spot abnormal behaviour such as a person floating vertically, then approach, issue an audio warning and release an inflatable rescue buoy that inflates on contact with water.

Instadrone founder Cedric Botilla told AFP that the system can operate fully automatically, covering about 2.5 km of shoreline and can be launched at any time, day or night. The trials near Biarritz aim to secure licensing within a month and move toward full operational deployment by the summer of 2027. The initiative responds to a sharp rise in drowning incidents during recent heat‑wave periods, which claimed 274 lives in France over two and a half months.

French officials say the drones are intended to complement, not replace, human lifeguards, providing rapid assistance especially at night or in low‑visibility conditions. The project is being funded by local authorities and is monitored by national safety agencies as part of a broader effort to improve beach safety through advanced technology.