Locating people lost at sea

摘要

The person (1) in the sea is attached by a cable (2) to a reflecting body (3), a balloon, rising above the waves (4). Radar waves or light beams (5) are reflected from the reflective paint coated surface (8) of the balloon (7) and received by a mobile station where they are processed to obtain the coordinates of the person in trouble. The equipment on the person includes a part (6) transmitting signals to the station, a gas-filled cartridge to inflate the balloon, the cable initially wound up, a hand-operated or automatic valve, and a wire (11) which acts as an antenna (14). The balloon has a flashing light (15).