China has unveiled something straight out of science fiction: an AI-powered lifebuoy that flies itself to drowning victims. Tested during an August 2026 water rescue drill at Xianghu Lake in Hangzhou, the drone-like device takes off from shore, races across the water's surface, and lands right beside a person in distress. On contact, it automatically shuts off its rotors to stay stable, even with someone clinging to it for support. Developed by police in Hangzhou's scenic area, the AI intelligent flying rescue robot uses autonomous navigation, meaning no pilot, no joystick, and no delay, just a machine that senses where help is needed and gets there fast.

The numbers behind it are just as striking. The device can travel up to two kilometers and reach speeds between 10 and 14 meters per second, easily outrunning traditional rescue boats in the critical seconds after someone goes under. It is strong enough to support up to two 80-kilogram adults at once, buying precious time until human responders arrive by inflatable boat to complete the rescue. Once its job is done, the lifebuoy lifts off the water on its own and flies straight back to shore. Chinese officials, including a foreign ministry spokesperson, have publicly praised the technology, framing it as part of a broader wave of AI-driven emergency tools reshaping how China responds to disasters in real time.