Alternative to the satellite phone: The flying breakdown triangle is now available

Satellite phones have long been special gadgets. It is only since smartphone manufacturers like Apple have allowed satellite communication with mobile phones that many people have come to appreciate the service and no longer want to do without it.

However, there are situations in which neither mobile phone signals nor satellite phones work perfectly. This is the case in avalanche accidents. Rescue helicopter pilots also report difficulties in searching for missing people, even though a GPS signal is available.

The reason for this is simply the poor visibility of the victims. This is where the Swiss invention R.One from the start-up Airmarker comes into play. The cylindrical device is about the size of a thermos flask and weighs 780 grams.

If you twist the two halves of the cylinder, a built-in, bright orange balloon fills with helium and rises to a height of up to 45 meters. This means you can be immediately recognized through the trees, even in heavily wooded areas. An LED that flashes at regular intervals and is automatically activated at dusk (from 10 lux) increases visibility even more.

The body of the rescue system has a snap hook so that it can be secured even in strong winds. The helium in the balloon is only supposed to evaporate after three days, so there should be enough time to track down missing people.

Buy Airmarker R.One

Interested? You can buy Airmarker R.One for 199 Euro buy hereOnce the balloon has been released, it must be refilled by the manufacturer. Airmarker does not specify how much this costs. In the future, there will be other variants, for example for water sports. And while you’re refilling your backpack, you should take a look at this portable wind turbine.

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