U.S. Army Telemedicine and Advanced Technology Research Center researchers are working to develop drones to support military medical services in the field.
The Medical Robotics and Autonomous Systems research projects aim to use artificial intelligence-based tools, including mobile devices and drones, to enhance the skills of medics on the battlefield. These technological advancements combined with drone delivery of medical supplies or blood products could help medics who are unable to evacuate casualties due to enemy threats or inaccessible terrain.
With the AI tools and drones, researchers aim to provide functions such as AI-based patient monitoring and diagnosis, make more informed treatment decisions and automatically record patients' data.
Before the military can perfect and implement robotic care and drones to evacuate casualties, it must develop a "more rugged, military-grade generation of computerized medical equipment," said Timothy Bentley, MD, program officer at Office of Naval Research, according to a news release. Dr. Bentley said the military is addressing this need through current research.
"We are meeting this need with the Automated Critical Care System, or ACCS, essentially an intensive care unit for the field," Dr. Bentley said. "The ACCS rides under the casualty's litter providing continuous monitoring and therapeutic care during prolonged evacuations. Medical data are sent to distant physicians; medical guidance is sent back to the ACCS."
ONR is also working with Australian researchers at the Australian Defence Force to create an autonomous vehicle for the ACCS to operate with. The vehicle is designed to reduce jolts during travel over rough terrain.