Quote Originally Posted by jdurand View Post
Might want to drop it closer to the drowning person.

A thought, have a long high visibility streamer dangle from the drone. Fly over the person so this is within reach. When they grab it, the flotation device is released and is attached to the streamer. That way the person can haul it over to where they are.
the streamer idea is the best I have heard so far. When a distressed person in the water is on the verge of drowning they are not going to be able to swim towards a flotation device in the first place, the second place dropping a device even within a couple of feet of the person if it happens to be behind them before they realize where the device is it may be pushed away by wave action or even the victim without their realizing it.
But a bright orange or red colored streamer dangled in the water from the drone could be positioned right in their hand almost and like you said a tug would release the device right on top of them.