HERO
“If They Can See You, They Can Save You”
When someone goes overboard, seconds matter... and most personal flotation devices already in service were never designed for autonomous visibility.
BioGlo HERO™ is a battery-free, mechanically activated bioluminescent retrofit module engineered to upgrade Type I, II, III, IV, and V PFDs with automatic, 360° visibility the moment the device is deployed or immersed.
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No batteries.
No switches.
No replacement of existing safety gear.
* Actual product may vary in design
What is HERO?
HERO™ is a universal retrofit bioluminescent signaling module designed to integrate with all major PFD classifications, including:
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Type I – Offshore Life Jackets
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Type II – Near-Shore Buoyant Vests
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Type III – Flotation Aids
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Type IV – Throwable Devices
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Type V – Special-Use Devices
HERO installs within or onto the PFD structure, remaining dormant during storage.
Upon immersion, deployment, or inflation, mechanical forces trigger a sealed BRET-enhanced bioluminescent reaction.
The result:
A bright, omnidirectional glow that makes the person, or flotation device, clearly visible to vessels, aircraft, and shoreline responders, even in darkness, fog, rain, or heavy seas.
Why HERO Exists?
Millions of PFDs are already deployed across commercial, recreational, aviation, and industrial environments but most share the same visibility failures:
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Most PFDs do not have any light source
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Batteries corrode, discharge, or fail in storage
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Manual lights require conscious activation
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LEDs produce narrow, directional points of light
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Glow sticks are short-lived and inconsistent
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Replacing entire fleets across five PFD classes is impractical.
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HERO™ delivers a single retrofit solution that works across all PFD types - without electronics and without user action.
How HERO works?
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Immersion or deployment occurs.
The PFD functions exactly as designed whether inflatable, wearable, or throwable. -
Mechanical activation triggers HERO.
Motion, pressure, inflation, or water-driven mechanical force actuates the HERO module—no batteries, no wiring, no electronics. -
BRET-enhanced bioluminescence is initiated.
Stabilized enzyme–substrate chemistry generates intense blue-green light, spectrally enhanced via BRET for improved detectability. -
Light radiates omnidirectionally.
The PFD or flotation device becomes a glowing rescue marker visible from air, sea, and shore.
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The flotation device emits uniform, omnidirectional light for immediate multi-angle detection.
HERO Advantages
Universal Retrofit Compatibility
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Designed for Type I–V PFDs
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Works with inflatable, wearable, and throwable devices
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No interference with buoyancy, inflation, or performance
Truly Autonomous
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No batteries
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No electronics required
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No manual activation
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Functions even if the user is unconscious or injured
Omnidirectional Illumination
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No narrow beams or blind spots
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Highly visible from multiple rescue angles
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Effective for both people and floating devices
Cold-Water & Harsh-Environment Reliable
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Bioluminescence performs in cold, wet, corrosive conditions
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No lithium or electrical failure risk
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Multi-year storage stability
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Designed for marine, aviation, industrial, and government use
Designed for Real-World Rescue
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HERO™ is built for the scenarios where retrofit visibility saves lives:
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Night operations
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Heavy seas and offshore environments
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Rain, fog, and spray
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Unwitnessed man-overboard events
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Aviation ditching and industrial safety scenarios
The system assumes no user participation and no ideal conditions because emergencies never do.
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One Module. Every PFD.
BioGlo HERO™ upgrades the life-saving equipment already in service across every PFD class turning flotation into visibility without redesign, retraining, or replacement.
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It is the fastest, most scalable path to autonomous rescue visibility.