Keelung rescue chief coach Wang Mingxiang develops a dolphin positioning tracker to improve water rescue efficiency

In recent years, Wang Mingxiang has developed a small dolphin positioning tracker that can send out signals to help search and rescue. (Photo by reporter Lu Xianxiu)

Wang Mingxiang, the head coach of the Keelung Rescue Association, has been involved in rescue work for more than 30 years. When encountering poor terrain or weather, it makes search and rescue difficult, so he often develops various equipment for rescue. For example, "umbilical diving" facilities that allow divers to enter ship cabins and engine rooms, as well as "small dolphin positioning trackers", make water activities and fishing boats safer, improve search efficiency, and increase the chance of survival for missing persons.

Wang Mingxiang said that in the past, meteorological information was not developed, and early rescue efforts were based on local steel-making methods. Many rescuers struggled with the sea. It was luck to be able to rescue people safely. He runs a motorcycle shop and has some ideas about mechanical equipment. He can make some equipment to improve the efficiency and safety of rescue.

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When TransAsia Airways crashed into the Keelung River many years ago, their rescuers determined that the space was tight and brought with them a self-designed "umbilical diving" device, which has a tube to deliver air to divers. They used this device to enter the narrow cabin that day, destroy the seats on the plane, and get more than 10 people out one by one.

In recent years, accidents have often happened to divers. He thought that if divers or fishermen wore a tracking device, when an accident occurred, the signal could be received on the boat or on land, and the drowning person could be found in the shortest possible time, thereby increasing the chance of survival.

Wang Mingxiang said that he went to the Dongsha Islands three years ago and found a cylindrical object on the seashore that had been emitting signals. It was a sign placed by fishermen while fishing, so that their location could be known. He then researched how to shrink the circuit board so that divers or crew members could carry it with them so that their position could be found in the event of an accident. He worked with a technology company to develop a "little dolphin" tracking locator.

After continuous testing and modification, the Little Dolphin Positioning and Tracking System is only more than 10 centimeters long, has a signal transmission distance of more than 3,000 meters, and a battery that can last for 7 days. It is suitable for divers and fishermen to wear. It can receive signals on fishing boats, coast guard vessels or land base stations and find drowning or deceased people more quickly during rescue operations.

After recent heavy rains, oyster sheds have drifted on the sea. Ships sailing at sea cannot see the oyster sheds at night, and are prone to collision risks. As soon as Wang Mingxiang sees the oyster sheds at sea, he will hang up a small dolphin, and the navigation instrument on the ship will detect the signal and avoid the obstacles.

For related news, please see:

Topic 3-1》Motorcycle shop owner has been involved in rescue operations for more than 30 years. Wang Mingxiang’s personal supernatural experience

Topic 3-3》Wang Mingxiang goes from rescuing people to protecting the sea and protecting the marine ecology

In recent years, after typhoons or heavy rains, oyster sheds have drifted on the sea surface, and fishing boats are prone to collision risks. (Picture provided by Wang Mingxiang)

Wang Mingxiang found a drifting oyster shack at sea and hung up a small dolphin positioning tracker to avoid ship collision damage. (Picture provided by Wang Mingxiang)