Progress in the International Standardization of Waterborne Remote-Controlled Rescue Wings: Background and Necessity
With the frequent occurrence of global water-related accidents, traditional manual rescue methods face severe challenges in response speed, efficiency, and rescuer safety. In recent years, the waterborne remote-controlled rescue wing—a new type of rescue equipment that is efficient, intelligent, and safe—has rapidly gained popularity in emergency rescue systems worldwide. However, due to the lack of unified technical specifications and safety standards, product performance varies significantly among manufacturers, severely restricting healthy industry development and international market expansion. To address this, the International Electrotechnical Commission (IEC) and the International Organization for Standardization (ISO) have jointly initiated the development of an international standard for "waterborne remote-controlled rescue wings," aiming to establish a unified global technical framework and safety evaluation system.

Progress in the International Standardization of Waterborne Remote-Controlled Rescue Wings: Current Work Progress
To date, the IEC/ISO joint working group has completed the preliminary drafting of the "General Technical Requirements for Waterborne Remote-Controlled Rescue Wings" (draft number: IEC/ISO WD 63050). The draft covers core indicators including product definition, classification, basic functional requirements, remote control performance, endurance, wind and wave resistance levels, waterproof standards, communication stability, emergency modes, human-machine interface, and environmental adaptability. In the third quarter of 2024, the draft underwent technical validation and comment collection in 23 countries worldwide, with active participation from major producing and using nations such as China, the United States, Germany, and Japan. In early 2025, the draft entered its second revision phase and is expected to complete voting by the end of 2025, with official publication as an international standard scheduled for 2026.

.

Progress in the International Standardization of Waterborne Remote-Controlled Rescue Wings: The Crucial Role of Chinese Enterprises
During this international standardization process, numerous leading Chinese enterprises and research institutions have deeply participated, contributing substantial real-world application data and technical solutions. Particularly, manufacturers of waterborne remote-controlled rescue wings from Zhejiang, Shenzhen, and other regions, leveraging years of export experience and technological innovation, have led the proposal of key technical clauses such as "U-shaped structural stability," "dual-mode communication redundancy," and "low-battery automatic return-to-home," which have been incorporated into the core content of the draft. This not only enhances China's voice in the global high-end emergency equipment sector but also provides standardization support for "Made-in-China" products entering the global market.

Progress in the International Standardization of Waterborne Remote-Controlled Rescue Wings: Future Impact and Outlook
Once the international standard for waterborne remote-controlled rescue wings is officially implemented, it will greatly promote the standardized development of the global market. On one hand, government procurement and rescue agencies will use the standard for equipment selection, improving the overall reliability of rescue gear. On the other hand, export-oriented enterprises will gain a unified certification basis, reducing technical trade barriers. Furthermore, the standard will encourage product intelligence and modular upgrades, driving deeper integration of artificial intelligence and IoT technologies in water rescue. It is foreseeable that the waterborne remote-controlled rescue wing will become an indispensable core device in global water safety systems in the future.