Summary: QuadBoat is a bio-inspired unmanned surface vehicle (USV) designed to go beyond victim detection by autonomously tracking, approaching, and retrieving people from the water. Combining a four-legged adaptive structure, advanced motion control, and visual tracking technology, the platform demonstrates a new direction for autonomous water rescue robotics.

 

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Rapid response is critical during water rescue operations, where even a few seconds can determine survival. QuadBoat, a newly developed autonomous water rescue robot, introduces a novel approach by combining target detection, tracking, and physical retrieval within a single unmanned surface vehicle (USV).

 

 

Inspired by the movement of fishing spiders, QuadBoat features a distinctive four-legged robotic architecture that enhances maneuverability and stability on the water surface. Unlike conventional rescue USVs that primarily focus on locating victims, QuadBoat is designed to complete the next crucial step—recovering them from the water.

 

The platform utilizes an actively adjustable quadrupedal structure that allows dynamic posture control while maintaining buoyancy. This design improves agility and enables precise movement in changing water conditions. To coordinate locomotion, the robot employs an inverse kinematics control system combined with model predictive control (MPC) and PID-based stabilization algorithms, providing accurate trajectory tracking and motion control.

 

 

A key technological feature is its vision-based target tracking system, which allows the robot to identify, follow, and approach floating objects autonomously. Experimental demonstrations showed that QuadBoat can execute planned movements, maintain tracking accuracy, and successfully retrieve designated targets in both indoor and outdoor environments.

 

The development highlights an emerging trend in AI-powered search and rescue robotics, where autonomous systems are expected to perform not only surveillance and detection but also direct intervention. Potential future applications include maritime rescue missions, coastal emergency response, harbor safety operations, and disaster recovery scenarios.

 

As autonomous marine robotics continues to evolve, QuadBoat demonstrates how bio-inspired robot design, intelligent control systems, and autonomous target retrieval technologies can be integrated into a compact platform capable of supporting faster and more effective water rescue operations.