SmartPFD: Towards an actively controlled inflatable life jacket to reduce death at sea

Personal Flotation Devices (PFD)/Life vests can considerably prolong life expectancy of a person that has gone overboard, yet they are not often worn by recreational users. Inflatable PFD are popular because of their slimmer profile that enhances user movement and comfortability, however, current models on the market are not without limitations. The SmartPFD has been developed to tackle problems associated with involuntary activation and to study the effect of multiple air pockets. The proposed PFD inflates when a pressure level has been maintained for a certain time; this will stop vests from inflating accidently. The vest has two separate air pockets that can deploy sequentially or simultaneously. The users’ orientation and acceleration are measured using an embedded Inertia Measurement Unit to track the ability of the PFD to turn a person floating face down upright. The designed PFD has been experimentally tested and initial results show good promise.