AI-guided shark detection drones are the next step in beach safety

Surfers know they share the waters they love with sharks, but technology may soon offer some added protection from a possible encounter. According to Southern Cross University researcher Andrew Colefax, the day is nearing that autonomous drones -- which do not require a line-of-sight operator -- will be able to offer shark detection at any point along the coastline. "I feel like that's around the corner," Dr Colefax said. He has spent four years of intense research and development in the field of drones and shark detection, and said artificial intelligence (AI) and machine learning will be a game changer on beaches in the near future. "There is continual research in this method to make it more reliable and provide a better level of safety," Dr Colefax said.