AppTrakk

APPTRAK is the world’s first AI drowning detection system
with a GPS accuracy of 10 metres underwater.

A world-first drowning detection system that detects distress, alerts help instantly, and brings peace of mind to families, lifesavers, and emergency services. Built in collaboration with:

When Seconds Matter, Technology Saves Lives

Drowning is fast, silent, and often invisible to the untrained eye. When a swimmer is in distress, their life can be decided in seconds — not minutes.

The hand-waving, help-yelling scene that movies depict is a myth. In real life, drowning is quick and quiet. That’s why real-time monitoring and instant alert systems are no longer optional—they’re essential.

AppTrakk is designed for families, schools, community organisations, surf lifesaving clubs, professional athletes and recreational users alike. If water safety is your advocacy, this NEW technology is for you.

Drowning Is NOT Always Fatal

Surviving a drowning doesn’t mean walking away unscathed.

Drowning statistics don’t include non-fatal drownings and can make up to 94% of drownings* which can lead to permanent brain injury, mobility issues, and lifelong medical needs. Many survivors require intensive care, ongoing rehabilitation, and daily support as a result. The consequent emotional and financial strain on families is enormous—and often overlooked.

While saving a life is vital, protecting quality of life is just as important.

*According to the World Health Organization in 2024

Meet AppTrakk: A New Era in Water Safety

SMILE LIKE DRAKE, in collaboration with Macquarie University School of Engineering, has developed AppTrakk – a revolutionary, AI-powered drowning detection system.

AppTrakk is built to shift those dangerous, undecided seconds in a swimmer’s favour. It empowers lifesavers, parents, guardians, first responders, and emergency services with real-time alerts, direct to their mobile phones.

But it’s not just about protecting the public — AppTrakk also protects the protectors.

When emergency services and first responders wear AppTrakk during water rescues, it also acts as an added layer of safety, tracking their wellbeing in real time and sending alerts if they themselves enter distress.

Key Benefits

AppTrakk gives communities modern tools to protect loved ones and prevent the preventable.

Real-time detection of distress

AppTrakk continuously monitors swimmers using AI-powered technology that can instantly identify signs of distress in the water. It works quietly in the background to spot danger the moment it begins.

Alerts sent to your phone within seconds

When it detects distress, AppTrakk sends immediate alerts straight to your mobile device. These crucial seconds allow you to act quickly and potentially prevent tragedy before it unfolds.

Built-in safety warnings for pools, beaches, and rivers

The system adapts to a variety of aquatic environments. It provides built-in safety alerts that warn of changing conditions, hazards, or other potential risks at pools, beaches, and riverbanks.

Enhances the ability of First Responders to respond faster

By delivering precise, real-time information, AppTrakk supports faster and more accurate responses. Lifesavers and emergency personnel can pinpoint where help is needed, reducing guesswork during critical moments.

Peace of mind for parents and guardians

Whether you’re watching over children at the pool or keeping an eye on teenagers at the beach, AppTrakk gives you confidence that help will be alerted instantly if something goes wrong. It allows families to relax, knowing there is an intelligent safety net in place.

What is AppTrakk?

AppTrakk comes in three parts:

Multisensor Wearable

Worn like a watch, AppTrakk continuously tracks key drowning indicators and triggers an alert with the following conditions:

Heart rate if below 55 BPM
Oxygen saturation if SpO2 drops below 90%
Depth if submerged deeper than 1.7m
Lack of movement if acceleration <1 m/s² for 15+ seconds

Smart GPS Beacon

During an emergency in the water, AppTrakk is activated.

Wirelessly detaches and floats to surface
Sends distress signal to emergency contacts
Displays real-time location in under 5 seconds

Mobile Monitoring App

The AppTrakk wearable device can be linked to a mobile monitoring app which:

Displays swimmer’s status: Safe or Drowning
Tracks location*
Allows custom settings for thresholds based on age, swimming ability, or environment

*New Patented technologies to be released Q4 of 2025

“Work hard, work diligently, never give up – anything is possible!”

– Chris Drake

The vision for the size and wearability of AppTrakk

How AppTrakk Works

AppTrakk is a lightweight, watch-like device that combines precision engineering with cutting-edge AI to provide real-time, automated water safety intervention.

AI Monitoring:

Continuously tracks swimmer behaviour in real time

Automatic Distress Detection:

Identifies irregular motion or prolonged submersion

Surface Signal Deployment:

Launches a wireless buoyed transmitter above water to alert help

Mobile Alert System:

Sends instant alerts to guardians, lifeguards

Because traditional GPS or radio signals can’t travel through water, AppTrakk uses a smart, buoy-based communication system to ensure distress signals reach the surface — fast.

This leap in technology bridges the fatal gap between an emergency and the moment help arrives.

Device Features

Real-World Validated

System tested in both lab tanks and real swimming pools
Triggered reliably under simulated drowning conditions
GPS accuracy within 10 metres
Waterproofed, compact, and designed for practical daily use

Power Efficient

231 minutes operating in active mode
Enough for full swimming sessions and water-based activities

Scalable Design

AI-powered detection
Low-power LoRa communication (suitable for underwater-to-air data relay)
Custom-designed PCB hardware
User interface via Blynk app for mobile/web access

Backed by Collaboration

This technology is the result of a groundbreaking collaboration between:

We Need Your Help

We’ve developed a working prototype – now we need your support to get AppTrakk onto wrists, into the water, and saving lives around Australia and the world.

We’ve successfully tested its performance in both controlled lab conditions and real-world aquatic environments. The technology works. The need is urgent. But we’re not done yet.

To move AppTrakk from prototype to production, the next critical steps include:

Miniaturising the hardware for comfortable, all-day wear
Streamlining the mobile app interface for ease of use
Undergoing third-party validation and regulatory compliance
Scaling up manufacturing for pilot rollouts in schools, surf clubs, and communities
Conducting live trials with key partners across Australia

This is where you come in.

DONATE

Help Us Get AppTrakk Into the Water

Preventing drowning takes a movement, not just a mission. 100% of all donations go directly to the on-going development and commercialisation of APPTRAKK

Whether you want to give, volunteer, partner, or advocate…

There is strength in numbers. Your involvement will help us take AppTrakk from the lab to the lives it’s meant to save.

Every donation you make is tax-deductible and directly supports our mission to protect lives.

*According to A 13-Year National Study of Non-Fatal Drowning in Australia (2023) by Royal Life Saving Australia.

Explore ways to support

Phone:	+61 419 333 312
Email:	[email protected]
Address:	Wentworth Street, Manly SMILE LIKE DRAKE FOUNDATION Ltd

AppTrakk