(Photo via Graphicstock.com)

The world.

The civil war in Syria and other dangerous situations in the Middle East have led to more than one million migrants trying to escape by sea to Europe.

Tragedy has become commonplace as thousands of people have died in the water as boats collapse in rough waters. The Coast Guard has invited a team from Texas A&M to launch a pilot project using a robot to help assist rescues. Two Arizonans were involved with rescue training and related efforts. Tony Mulligan, president and CEO of Hydronalix, and southern Arizona Rural Metro Fire Captain John Sims were involved.