1st out of 131 teams · Hack the 6ix · Jul 2025

A robot turret that watches a swimming area and spots someone drowning before the people around them do. It aims and fires an inflatable buoy to the exact spot, so the swimmer has something to float on while help is on the way.

Why it won: Drowning kills more than 236,000 people a year, many within sight of help but seconds too far for a swimming rescue. The launcher was built in a weekend from 3D-printed parts and hobby motors so strong the team had to rewire the electronics mid-build to keep them from frying. It won the hardware prize on top of first place.