FAST RESCUE DEVICE (FReD)
Every year, over 236,000 people lose their lives to drowning, including many rescuers — that’s one person every 30 seconds. Preventing drowning and ensuring safety at sea requires speed, precision, and RELIABILITY — every second counts.
The FReD robotic buoy by Fire & Resq GmbH provides a high-tech rescue solution. It can be remotely navigated toward a victim either from the shore or from a boat or height as bridge or helicopters. It is safer, faster, and easier to use than traditional methods, moving more than ten times faster than a swimming lifeguard, enabling immediate intervention and saving lives.
Its design is based on three core principles:
Speed – Buoyancy – Rescue.
Already, more than 16 lives have been saved worldwide thanks to the use of FReD devices.
The remote-controlled robotic life buoy is an innovative invention capable of saving lives during emergency situations at sea. This advanced system uses wireless technology to be guided remotely toward the person in danger, providing immediate support and safety until professional rescuers arrive. The operator can steer the buoy via a handheld remote control, allowing it to overcome waves, wind, and other environmental challenges. This technology represents a major advancement in maritime safety, reducing reaction time and increasing the chances of survival in critical moments.
Find the FReD that fits your mission
The FRED – Remote-Controlled Robotic Life Buoy is available in four versions: Standard, High Speed, Upgraded Standard, and Upgraded High Speed.
All versions share the same top features: they include self-righting function and automatic return, portable construction for easy transport, intelligent switch for safe activation, integrated GPS, and IP68 certification for complete resistance to water and dust. They support a payload capacity of up to 250 kg and provide operating time of up to 60 minutes of continuous use. With dimensions of 94 × 77 × 24 cm, they withstand wind resistance Class 3 and wave resistance up to 2 meters, ensuring reliability and effectiveness in every rescue condition.
- Operating range: up to 1,000 meters
- Forward speed: up to 7 knots (unloaded)
- Device weight: 12.5 kg (±0.5 kg)
- Remote-controlled system with full remote operation
- Controller with display showing information on direction, speed, distance, battery level, and potential malfunctions
- Single-hand operation for easy use
Customizable platform allows installation of accessories such as lights, warning beacons, loudspeakers, or other tools for specialized missions.
- Operating range: up to 1,000 meters
- Forward speed: up to 13 knots (unloaded)
- Payload capacity: up to 250 kg
- Device weight: 13.5 kg (±0.5 kg)
- Remote-controlled system – full remote operation via handheld controller
- Single-hand operation – ergonomic design for quick and easy use by one operator
- Controller with display – shows information on direction, speed, distance, battery level, and potential malfunctions
- Operating range: up to 600 meters
- Forward speed: up to 13 knots (unloaded)
- Device weight: 13 kg (±1 kg)
- Two-hand remote control with display – provides precise handling and real-time data and feedback
- Image transmission system with camera – integrated camera delivers live video feed from the rescue area, enhancing visibility and safety
- One-way voice communication – enables communication from the rescuer to the person in need
- Operating range: up to 600 meters
- Forward speed: up to 13 knots (unloaded)
- Device weight: 13.5 kg (±1 kg)
- Two-hand remote control with display – offers stable and precise maneuvering with real-time information display
- Image transmission system with camera – integrated camera provides live video from the rescue zone, improving situational awareness
- One-way voice communication – enables voice communication from the rescuer to the person in distress
Walkie-Talkie
- Power: 80 W
- Sound intensity: 130 dB
- Communication distance: up to 600 meters
- Weight: 150 g
- Operating time: up to 4 hours of continuous use
**The effective range of the remote control or the communication distance of the Walkie-Talkie depends on environmental conditions.
**In open water environments, or when the operator is positioned above the water surface, system performance is significantly enhanced.
Rescue and Prevention Applications
The FReD Robotic Rescue buoys by Fire & Resq GmbH are used internationally in various water rescue and drowning-prevention operations.
In Germany and Austria, they are deployed by civil protection services and rescue teams in rivers, lakes, and coastal areas, offering speed and safety even in challenging conditions.
In Switzerland, they are utilized for operations in strong water currents, while in countries such as Greece, Spain, and Italy, FReD models are applied in coastal zones and tourist resorts to assist lifeguard services.
In Asia, particularly in China and South Korea, these devices are integrated into national drowning-prevention programs, while in Australia, they are used for coastal monitoring and rapid-response missions in high-wave environments.
Thus, FReD devices have proven to be a valuable technological solution for rescue operations in every environment, enhancing the safety of both swimmers and rescuers alike.
