Artificial intelligence-guided shark detection drones are the next step in beach safety

Artificial intelligence-guided shark detection drones are the next step in beach safety

Surfers know they share the waters they love with sharks, but technology may soon offer some added protection from a possible encounter.

According to Southern Cross University researcher Andrew Colefax, the day is nearing that autonomous drones — which do not require a line-of-sight operator — will be able to offer shark detection at any point along the coastline.

He has spent four years of intense research and development in the field of drones and shark detection, and said artificial intelligence (AI) and machine learning will be a game changer on beaches in the near future.

“There is continual research in this method to make it more reliable and provide a better level of safety,” Dr Colefax said.

Drones are operating on many popular swimming beaches across the state under a Surf Life Saving NSW and State Government program, however they require a pilot to operate them within the line of sight.

Dr Colefax said another limitation was piloted drones under use were subject to a surf club’s hours of operation and tend to operate only the vicinity of surf clubs, which leaves surfers vulnerable.

“The majority of shark encounters tend to involve board riders rather than swimmers, so it’s important that we develop technology with the intention to provide surveillance beyond the red and yellow flags and hours of beach patrols,” he said.

Space to play or pause, M to mute, left and right arrows to seek, up and down arrows for volume.

Watch

Duration: 35 seconds35s

Sharing the skies

Autonomous shark detecting drones could patrol for longer periods of time and over longer stretches of coastline without requiring a line-of-sight operator, but roadblocks to the technology remain.

“We need that AI to be able to pick up and reliably distinguish one animal from another, or one shark that might be a threat to public safety versus another that is no cause for alarm,” Dr Colefax said.

Air safety regulations are another issue.

“Drones share the airspace with manned aircraft and so when you talk complete automation it needs to be reliable,” he said.

Authorities keep ‘open mind’

Drone systems are not new to the Australian aviation landscape. Semi-autonomous drone home deliveries of food and other goods have operated in Canberra and parts of Brisbane for many years.

Spokesperson for the Civil Aviation Safety Authority (CASA), Peter Gibson, said thousands of hours of stringent tests would be required to permit a more autonomous drone system to patrol the coastline.

He said the risk of a drone falling out of the sky and injuring a swimmer in the water or on the sand was the biggest risk.

But Mr Gibson said CASA had an “open mind” and will continue to work with universities like SCU to ensure public safety as drone technology advances.

“There’s lots of things that need to be done in terms of meeting the safety standards, but it certainly is possible having autonomous drones flying,” Mr Gibson said.

“We expect it will happen more into the future.”

Published at Tue, 08 Dec 2020 04:59:06 +0000

Kazakh President Tokayev Addresses Artificial Intelligence Conference Together With Russian …

NUR-SULTAN – Kazakh President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev participated in the Artificial Intelligence Journey conference that gathered over 28,000 participants from over 90 countries Dec. 3-5, Akorda reported. 

During the meeting. Photo credit: Akorda press service

Artificial Intelligence Journey is a series of events focusing on artificial intelligence and data analysis and hosted by international companies, including Russian ones, working in AI technology development and application. 

Addressing the session “Artificial Intelligence: Responsible Attitude Towards the Future” also attended by the Russian President, Tokayev said the world already lives in the age of artificial intelligence, machine learning and neural networks permeating different areas, including economics, security, medicine and politics. All people were quick to realize this after the coronavirus outbreak.

“This is a new world where new technologies lead us fast. What it will end up like, beautiful or frightening, what future we will leave to future generations depends on our common efforts, the efforts of engineers, IT specialists, economists and most importantly, politicians,” said Tokayev.

He noted the positive impact of artificial intelligence in healthcare, where AI-driven technologies can diagnose diseases and determine the outbreak of dangerous infections 18 months in advance allowing healthcare systems to prepare for such situations.

Tokayev said the development of artificial intelligence and big data analysis is one of the main development priorities for Kazakhstan. It is important for geographically large countries to minimize the digital divide within the country, he added, noting the importance of a digital agglomeration.

He also told the virtual gathering about Kazakhstan’s experience in incorporating digital technologies and expressed interest in applying information technologies to improve the public administration system and the quality of public policies as well as the role of digitalization and big data analysis in the formation and effective implementation of public policies.

Kazakhstan is currently working to introduce a Data Driven Government that will entail completely new approaches to real-time collecting and processing of big data. 

He also spoke about the new Institute of Smart Systems and Artificial Intelligence established at Nazarbayev University, the country’s leading Western-style university, that will create a national artificial intelligence cluster with its own laboratory, data processing research center and artificial intelligence development science park in partnership with the World Bank

The use of digital technologies, however, is not an end goal, but a tool to improve the lives of people and the business environment. 

“The state must work like a machine, that is true. But a listening state and its civil servants must have empathy, and spend more resources on interacting with citizens,” said Tokayev.

Tokayev also emphasized the risks in the development and introduction of artificial intelligence, including personal data protection. He also said artificial intelligence can be used in conflicts and future geopolitical confrontations.

He suggested adopting a memorandum that will prohibit the use of artificial intelligence technologies to the detriment of a person and violation of his or her rights. The document, he noted, will become a moral and ethical pact for a person and a mandatory requirement for artificial intelligence and its developers.

“Our task is to create measures to prevent such negative impacts. But as paradoxical as it may sound, the success of the new era will depend on the level of humanity that we will put into these new technologies. The thinking processes of machines and robots must develop in a constructive direction,” said Tokayev.

Published at Tue, 08 Dec 2020 04:52:30 +0000