The robot, called Mylo, sends an alert to a smartphone if it dectects pre-drowning behavior and actual drownings.

Coral Smart Pool, an Israeli startup, has developed Mylo, a virtual lifeguard that uses computer vision and AI to detect potential drowning accidents in the swimming pool. It also sounds an alarm in case it detects a pool entry. (No Camels)

The system is specially useful for preventing drowning accidents involving children, most of which occur in private swimming pools, even when parents are in close proximity. In fact, children under five don’t struggle, shout or splash before they drown.

They sink silently to the bottom of the pool.

Mylo

The Mylo device looks like a filter. It is fitted to a corner of the pool and only needs a power connection. It is claimed to be the world’s first and only Computer Vision and AI-based Virtual Lifeguard for residential pools to detect drowning.

The startup analyzed, annotated and processed millions of videos and images of people underwater to develop a robust drowning detection algorithm for Mylo.

“Our mission is to change the statistics and drowning that happens in private pools where there is no protection at all,” says Shadie Bisharat, CEO of Coral Smart Pool.t. “And the solution we’re providing is a virtual lifeguard.”

Interestingly, even after installation, the Mylo AI continues to learn to become smarter with every scenario it surveys.

“The accuracy is very high, and it has minimal false alarms, around once every three weeks. I think that’s what makes it special,” adds Bisharat.

Related Story: Study Finds AI-Enabled Drones Can Reliably Detect Sharks Near Beaches