Manufactured by Chinese drone company Didiok Makings, the TY-3R is essentially a cross between a quadcopter and a life raft.

According to New Atlas, the idea is that when a swimmer in distress is spotted by rescuers on land, all they have to do is turn on the drone, fly to the person and land in the water, where the swimmer will use it as a flotation device.

A human rescuer, who travels more slowly, will then follow in a boat to bring the individual back to shore.

The TY-3R takes off at the push of a button on an included remote joystick and provides the pilot with a real-time view from a tilting 720p camera on board during the journey.

Hybrid rescue drone flies out to swimmers and becomes a lifebuoy
Could you throw a lifebuoy all the way out to a distressed swimmer located one kilometer away? Nope, you couldn’t … but you could fly one out to them, in the form of the TY-3R Flying Lifebuoy drone.
New AtlasDidiok Makings

Once the swimmer has been picked up and no longer needs the drone to float, another button causes the aircraft to fly autonomously back to the GPD coordinates of its take-off location - the helicopter is able to take off from the water as well as land on it.

According to Didiok, the TY-3R can float up to two adults, has a communication range of 1.1 km, a maximum speed of 47 km/h and an operating time of more than 10 minutes per battery charge.

It is also claimed to weigh less than 5 kg and is fully IP68 waterproof, meaning it can withstand submersion to a depth of 1 m for 30 minutes.

The TY-3R switches off its motors when it lands in the water, and also has screens on its propellers to further protect swimmers' fingers and other appendages.