1. Unmanned Systems in Support of Future Medical Operations in Dense Urban Environments
UNCLASSIFIED
Nathan Fisher, MS
Project Manager/Robotics SME (CTR)
US Army Medical Research and Materiel Command (USAMRMC)
Telemedicine & Advance Technology Center (TATRC)
22 April 2016

2. Disclaimer
"The views, opinions and findings contained in this research/presentation are those of the author(s) and do not necessarily reflect the views of the Department of Defense and should not be construed as an official DoD/Army policy unless so designated by other documentation. No official endorsement should be made."

3. TATRC Parent Organizations USAMEDCOM & USAMRMC
5 RMCs
Health Readiness Platforms
(MEDCEN)
HR CoE
(AMEDDC&S
USAMRMC
PHC
Telemedicine and Advanced Technology Research Center (TATRC)
US Army Medical Research and Materiel Command (USAMRMC)
MEDCOM
TATRC
MEDCOM – US Army Medical Command
MEDCEN – Medical Centers now called Health Readiness Platforms
AMEDDC&S – Army Medical Department Center and School
HR CoE -Health Readiness Center of Excellence
USAMRMC – US Army Medical Research and Materiel Command
PHC – Public Health Center
TATRC – Telemedicine & Advanced Technology Research Center
UNCLASSIFIED

4. US Army Medical Research & Materiel Command (USAMRMC) Telemedicine & Advanced Technologies Research Center (TATRC) COL Daniel R. Kral, Director
Mission: Exploit technical innovations for the benefit of military medicine by developing, demonstrating and integrating across a variety of technology portfolios including teleHealth, medical simulation and training, health IT, medical intelligent systems & robotics, command and control, computational biology, and mobile solutions. Sponsor bottom-up innovation through limited technology demonstrations focused on readiness, access to care, and healthcare delivery.
Operational Medicine Technologies Lab
Focus on application of emerging technologies such as robotics and autonomous systems, and telemedicine for the for forward roles of care.
Medical Modeling Simulation Innovation Center
Biotechnology High Performance Computing Applications Institute
Mobile Health Innovation Center
Focus: Roles 1-3
Operational Telemedicine
Robotics, UMS Autonomous
Devices
AMEDD Advanced Medical Technology Initiative
Health Technology Innovation Center
UNCLASSIFIED

5. Planned Use of UMS in 2025B
"Over the next 25 years, the Army aviation force mix shifts from being almost entirely manned to consisting of mostly unmanned and [Optionally-Piloted Vehicles].“ U.S. Army Roadmap for UAS
“Unmanned systems will be critical to U.S. operations in all domains across a range of conflicts, both because of the capability and performance advantages and because of their ability to take greater risk than manned systems.”
DoD Unmanned Systems Integrated Roadmap FY
Unmanned Systems technology will continue to improve.
Technological innovations rapidly evolving, to include data-intensive, multi-sensor, and multi-mission capabilities.
More autonomous/task level control
More multipurpose
More interoperable
Less reliance on GPS
Less reliance on persistent comms
Both the DoD and Army roadmaps for UMS are predicting ubiquitous use of unmanned systems in the next 20 years.
Mostly driven by the potential capabilities and performances advantages of UMS
One key distinction is that UMS assets can conceivably take on much greater risks, allowing them to operate in conditions and areas that manned assets cannot.
Today’s UMS have limited autonomy and rely heavily on persistent comms and gps for tele-operated control.
As UMS autonomy advances, they will be capable of high-level tasking and useful for a wide range of missions.
It is the thesis of this presentation that, in certain scenarios, UMS can offer increased capability for medical resupply missions and casualty evacuation, especially in the megacities environment.
UNCLASSIFIED

6. Definitions
Medical Evacuation (MEDEVAC): movement of any person who is wounded, injured, or ill to and /or between medical treatment facilities while providing en route medical care, performed by dedicated medical personnel onboard a dedicated evacuation platform.
Casualty Evacuation (CASEVAC): movement of casualties onboard nonmedical vehicles or aircraft without dedicated en route medical care.
En Route Care: The care required to maintain the phased treatment initiated prior to evacuation and the sustainment of the patient’s medical condition during evacuation.
MEDEVAC vs. CASEVAC
MEDEVAC – …En Route Care, dedicated evac platform with dedicated personnel
CASEVAC - not a dedicated evac platform and/or no ERC and/or no dedicated personnel
- Typically used in the forward Roles of Care with “vehicles of opportunity” to expedite evac
UNCLASSIFIED

7. Roles of Care
Roles of Medical Care (NATO definition as applied to US Army Organization)
Role 1: Self-aid, buddy aid, or combat lifesaver & Basic Primary Care.
Point of Injury Care & Bn Aid Station
Combat Medic trained in tactical combat casualty care (TCCC)
Goal to stabilize and evacuate to Role 2-3
Role 2: Stabilization & Forward Surgery
lifesaving resuscitative surgery
100% Mobile
Brigade Medical Company & Forward Surgical Team (FST)
Stabilize and evacuate to Role 3
Role 3: Combat Zone Hospitalization and outpatient services for all categories of patients
Combat Support Hospital
Evacuate to Role 4 within Theater Evacuation Policy.
Role 4 & above: Communications Zone or CONUS-based hospitals & medical centers.
Role 1 consists of both the far-forward care at the point of injury, self-aid, buddy-aid, or combat medic trained in combat casualty care
Basic Primary Care at a BAS
Goal to stabilize and evac to a higher level of care
As you progress through Roles 2 through 4 , it means more capability and usually increased distance from the point of injury.
Focus on Role 1 for UMS CASEVAC and Emergency Medical Resupply prior to BAS
UNCLASSIFIED

8. Constraints on Medical Resources – Dense Urban Environments
Limited freedom of movement for conventional vehicle platforms (both air and ground) to provide medical resupply and casualty evacuation
Gridlocked transportation networks
Predictable movement patterns (IED threats)
3-Dimensional threats (air, land, and subterranean)
Limited Medical Resources
Mass Casualties/Natural Disasters
Manned assets too high risk in A2/AD environments
Increased evacuation time and distance to MTF
Prolonged Field Care, Prolonged En Route Care
UMS could serve as a Force Multiplier, providing increased access to Resources
When conventional manned assets are denied access: air superiority is not assured
When medical resources are severely constrained
Nonmedical vehicles will be increasingly unmanned (less conventional “Vehicles of Opportunity” for CASEVAC)
CASEVAC and medical resupply require freedom of movement on the battlefield
Mobility of ground and air vehicles is likely to be restricted in Dense Urban Areas: Gridlock, and Threats
UAS have advantages over traditionally manned platforms: Smaller, lighter, more versatile, less vulnerable to loss of pilot and crew, potentially less expensive
Can take on higher risk, and more access due to smaller size and versatility
In addition to the mobility issue, Medical Resources in DUA will be considerably strained
Mass Casualty Scenarios, Increased Evac distances, Requirements for longer Prolonged Field Care (more medical logistics requirements)
UAS in urban environment for medical resupply of just in time capabilities for life support and sustainment in extended care scenarios and CASEVAC.
UNCLASSIFIED

9. Future Medical Missions
From 2001 to 2011, nine out of ten Warfighters who died from injuries sustained in combat did so before arriving at a medical care facility. Of these, almost 25 percent died from injuries deemed potentially survivable (Eastridge, Mabry, Seguin et al., 2012).
Strategies to improve outcomes prior to Role 3:
Bring medical expertise, supplies, and equipment to the point of care (Roles 1-2)
Decrease evacuation times and improved En Route Care
Both strategies made more difficulty by likely mobility restrictions in Megacities.
In the operational battle space of the future, it is likely that the time required to evacuate casualties will increase not only due to the lack of mobility in dense urban environments, but also because of predicted increases in distance between the point of injury and the closest medical treatment facility. Therefore, improving the far forward casualty care capabilities of medics in the field will become increasingly important in future combat.
UNCLASSIFIED

10. UMS for Future Medical Missions
Dedicated Medical Evacuation (MEDEVAC) Platforms attended by experienced medical processionals are ideal, BUT:
What if no manned assets are immediately available
Manned assets are denied access (risk of losing additional lives is too great)
CBRNE exposure risk
Bottom-Line: Future UMS having a secondary capability to be reconfigurable to support CASEVAC would be an enabler for the maneuver Commander. UMS for CASEVAC should only be used under careful consideration, and only when acting in the best interest of the wounded.
When CASEVAC (manned or unmanned) is too risky, UMS could potentially be used to bring medicine, supplies, and telemedicine/tele-consultation capabilities forward in support of Prolonged Field Care situations
Bottom-Line: Future UMS having a secondary capability to be reconfigurable to support CASEVAC would be an enabler for the maneuver Commander, who is ultimately responsible for clearing wounded from the battle space. UMS for CASEVAC should only be used under careful consideration, and only when acting in the best interest of the wounded.
When CASEVAC (manned or unmanned) is too risky, UMS could potentially be used to bring medicine, supplies, and telemedicine/tele-consultation capabilities forward to the point of care.
Suitably-sized future UMS could be developed to have a secondary CASEVAC or medical resupply capability
UNCLASSIFIED

11. UAS Size Categories
UNCLASSIFIED

12. The Case for UMS CASEVAC
UMS Platforms have superior mobility in Dense Urban Environments
Smaller, lighter, more agile
Does not need to support weight of pilot and manual controls, displays, seats, etc.
Potentially faster speeds/accelerations prior to loading casualty
Smaller footprint means more potential Landing Zones (LZs)
Form Factor Comparison small UAS vs Conventional Platform
UH-60 (Sikorsky)
Black Hawk:
Length ~65 ft (including blade)
Empty Weight ~ 10,000+ Lbs
Rotor Diam ~ 53 ft
DP-14:
Length ~ 20 ft (incl blades)
Empty Weight ~ 250 lbs
Rotor Diameter ~ 13 ft
DP-14 (Dragonfly Pictures, Inc.)
UAS In-Development
UNCLASSIFIED

13. UGVs of various size with mission-specific payloads
Multi-Purpose UMS
DARPA ARES (Aerial Reconfigurable Embedded System)
Medium-size VTOL with mission-specific payloads
UGVs of various size with mission-specific payloads
Need to develop secondary CASEVAC capability for suitable future UMS platforms
[iRobot]
[Lockheed Martin SMSS]
UNCLASSIFIED

14. The Case for UMS CASEVAC
Example Path of Adoption for Medical Missions:
Near Term
Scenario: UAS delivery of emergency medical supplies to support Prolonged Field Care when manned-assets are denied access
Enabling Capability: Mature autonomous navigation and C2
Mid Term
Scenario 1: Vehicle of Opportunity CASEVAC with attending medic
Scenario 2: Unattended CASEVAC for stable patient (“walking wounded”)
Enabling Capability: Ensured safety for limited UMS troop transport
Far Term
Scenario: Unattended CASEVAC/MEDEVAC
Enabling Capability: Autonomous Enroute Care (closed-loop or remote human control of patient management systems), Roll-on or man-transportable En Route Care Kit
Dedicated pilot-less MEDEVAC platforms (pilot SWaP vs. capability trade)
UNCLASSIFIED

15. Challenges for Medical UMS
Safe Ride Standards for UMS CASEVAC
NATO Task Group HFM-184 “…use of UAVs for CASEVAC will take place as soon as Cargo UAVs or optionally-piloted conventional aircraft are available on the battlefield – it is up to NATO and the Nations to ensure that such use is carried out under the safest possible considerations”
Considerations unique to UASs for casualty transport and medical resupply
Lack of VTOL UAS assets in the near/mid-term in Tactical/Persistent size classes for agile/last-mile medical resupply.
Larger VTOL UAS will likely be Optionally-Piloted Aircraft (OPA) in the near/mid term
Trust
Medical logistics prior to use as casualty transport
Trust established for UMS troop transport in general
Specific guidelines for UMS CASEVAC in terms of environmental exposure (shock/vibe, temperature, noise, pressure)
**Need active development of CASEVAC as a secondary role for suitable UAS to ensure safe implementation
??To Add??
Technical Challenges:
C2 Jamming
GPS-denied (buildings, jamming)
Lack of comms
UNCLASSIFIED

16. Capabilities of UMS for Future Medical Missions
Notional CONOPS for UAS CASEVAC
Call for CASEVAC -> Closest vehicle of opportunity is suitably sized UAS, with a secondary capability for CASEVAC
Ground Control Station plans route, and UAS navigates to LZ autonomously
Field Medical performs collaborative landing with UAS
Finalizes LZ position
Gives permission to land and to take off
UAS navigates autonomously to the MTF
eTCCC card and streaming of vitals sent to care provider at MTF
One of Many CONOPs (ex. “unplanned resupply”)
SOURCE: NATO STO Technical Report TR-HFM-184, December 2012
UNCLASSIFIED

17. Future UMS Enroute Care Scenarios
Example En Route Care System onboard a UMS platform
Example Interactions with Care Providers
Enroute Care Control Unit
Tactical Radio Network
CASE 3: Autonomous Care (closed-loop) provided by inflight control unit with human-in-the –loop in a supervisory role
CASE 2. Remote control of inflight control unit by care provider at destination MTF
CASE 1: Remote monitoring of casualty en route by provider at destination MTF
ECG
Patient Monitor
SaO2 BP
Increasing Levels of Autonomy
Address UAS-specific considerations for medical applications, especially those involving patient transport
Development and integration of a prototype environmental measurement system relevant to medical applications of UAS
Environmental measurement system, patient monitors, and therapeutic medical devices will all be developed(?) with a UCS compliant/open systems approach
How to provide human-touch/reassurance, patient comfort (noise, cold), minimize stress
For ref
Patient Monitor (
Surgical Robot (
Transport
Ventilator
Surgical Robots
IV Pump
Future Therapeutic Medical Devices
Casualty (Simulated)
UNCLASSIFIED

18. Novel Use of sUAS sUAS – Tradeoffs: Size, Range, Payload
Role for last-mile/agile resupply
Provide aid for Prolonged Field Care– driven by A2/AD
Blood
Supplies (devices, consumables, pharmaceuticals...)
Expertise (telemonitoring, teleconsultation)
Considerable investment from industry
FAA Aerospace Forecast FY
industrial inspection (42%)
real estate/aerial photography (22%)
agriculture (19%), insurance (15%)
Delivery (Amazon, Google)
Small Unmanned Aerial Systems (sUAS) broadly defined here as aircraft much smaller than traditionally piloted vertical takeoff and landing aircraft, have the potential to provide some unique capability in providing medical logistics compared to larger aircraft due to the increased mobility afforded to their smaller form factor. For example, sUAS are able to more easily navigate in congested urban environments and require much smaller landing zones (if they even need to land at all). Because of the additional mobility afforded by sUAS in dense urban areas, they are likely to be widely used for other purposes, e.g. intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance, cargo delivery, and communications relay. The operational medicine community should be prepared to utilize these multi-functional sUAS platforms to provide additionally support for medical operations.
The tradeoff for this increased mobility is a smaller payload capacity and shorter flight duration, but in certain circumstances, the payload capacity and range of a sUAS could be sufficient in providing life-saving emergency medical resupply in support of field medics that are unreachable through more traditional means. Prolonged field care situations in which casualties are unable to be evacuated due to area denial challenges would particularly benefit from a sUAS capability of medical resupply. In addition to the delivery of medical supplies (medical devices, drugs, blood products, etc.), the sUAS could potentially deliver a telemedicine system which could provide a solider/medic direct audio and video teleconsultation from a medical expert. The agile medical resupply capability afforded by sUAS could become a catalyst in improving the far-forward field medic’s capabilities by ensuring that they have the required medical resources (consumables, specialty tools/devices, and teleconsultation) that they need to provide life-saving casualty care; essentially bringing the advanced treatment to the casualty in situations in which the casualty cannot be rapidly evacuated to the medical treatment facility. The military could potentially leverage the considerable investments currently being made by industry to advance research and development efforts in UAS delivery of commercial packages [4][5], which share many of the same performance requirements of a future UAS conducting an emergency medical supply mission.
In the report, the FAA predicts the top five small UAS markets will be industrial inspection (42 percent), real estate/aerial photography (22 percent), agriculture (19 percent), insurance (15 percent) and government (2 percent).
UNCLASSIFIED

19. Enabling Technologies: Autonomy
Unmanned Systems technology will continue to improve
Technological innovations rapidly evolving, to include data-intensive, multi-sensor, and multi-mission capabilities.
State of the Science -> miniaturization and robustness, focus on autonomy
Synergy with emerging tech -> machine learning, cloud computing, augmented/virtual reality, natural language processing, etc.
Example: LiDAR Evolution
Unmanned Systems (UMS) currently in-use today have very limited autonomy. UMS vehicles of today are normally operated under the manual control and close supervision of a remote operator (teleoperation). Advancements in vehicle autonomy systems will fully automate many of the vehicles functions, including route planning, navigation, obstacle avoidance, and landing zone evaluation. Vehicle autonomy systems will likely continue to evolve to the point that they will outperform traditional human pilots/operators in many areas, for example, operations in extreme weather conditions. Even human-piloted military vehicles in the future will be augmented by vehicle autonomy technology that will provide the pilot with increased situational awareness and safety systems, which is becoming increasingly true in today’s consumer car industry.
Much of the capability that is required for a UAS to navigate autonomously in a dense urban environment has been demonstrated to some degree in current science and technology research programs, to include GPS-denied navigation and landing zone evaluation [6] Autonomous systems will continue to evolve to provide increasingly sophisticated perception and planning systems through improvements in both hardware (sensors and processing) and software. The size, weight, and power (SWaP) requirements of autonomous sensor systems is also likely to dramatically decrease, allowing even small UAS the ability to carry the sensor systems required for sophisticated Sense and Avoid capabilities.. For example, the LIDAR sensors, which are heavily relied upon in today’s autonomous vehicles to observe distances to physical objects in its surroundings, are likely to become much smaller and inexpensive as solid-state LIDAR systems begin to replace current systems with mechanically-directed optics [7].
akes, Traction Control, Cruise Control in the past, and now Blind-Spot detection, lane-drift warning)
LIDAR:
~$250, no moving parts, available the end of this year
$8000
2 lbs
Integrated Solid State LiDAR Sensor
Compact, lightweight, low cost
Currently Available LiDAR Sensors [
UNCLASSIFIED

20. Enabling Technologies: Teaming
UMS Teaming with Soldiers for Operational Medicine:
High Cognitive demands in TCCC scenarios
Patient Care
TCCC documentation
Maintaining SA
Cognitive burden of UMS C2
Task-level Commands, Supervisory Role
Example Soldier – UMS Interactions during Medical Missions:
UAS: Collaborative VTOL landing/takeoff at CCP (CASEVAC)
UAS: “Last-Mile” emergency medical resupply request and coordinated drop-off
UGV: Collaborative Casualty Extraction/Lift
Effective Manned-Unmanned Teaming (MUM-T) requires:
Intuitive and efficient Human-Computer Interfaces
Improved by implementation of hands free input (real-time natural language processing, gesture control)
Common controllers, interfaces, communications protocols for all devices and actors in the system
Advancements in vehicle autonomy will allow for humans to interact with unmanned assets using high-level tasking.
In order to fully realize the potential benefits of unmanned systems for medical missions, the UMS operator (potentially a field medic) needs to interact with the UMS at a task/goal level, providing the UMS with high level commands and mission parameters and providing only supervisory-level control. In this way, the UMS operator’s cognitive burden can be dramatically reduced, allowing him/her to conduct other tasks or control more UMS assets.
It is particularly important for a field medic to interact efficiently with future UAS due to the cognitive and physical demands of actively caring for a casualty. The medic is also responsible for the difficult task of documenting and transmitting tactical combat casualty care information for incorporation into the electronic health record. Given the magnitude of the demands on the medic’s time and attention, the medic needs a highly effective interface for providing command and control to future UMS.
UNCLASSIFIED

21. MUM-T: Opportunity for Overmatch
Cross Platform
(UMS-UMS, Human-UMS)
Cross Domain
(Air, Ground, Maritime)
Cross Service
(Army, Navy, Air Force)
Requires Joint Interoperability Strategy
The US military will not be the only international actor which will have advanced UMS assets in the future operational environment. The opportunity for overmatch relies heavily on the ability of our manned systems and unmanned systems to effectively operate as a highly integrated team. This will require efficient and effective teaming not only between manned and unmanned systems, but also between different UMS platforms. Improvements in the speed and efficiency in which soldiers are able to interact with unmanned systems, the ease of collaboration between different robotic platforms, and the capability of rapid dissemination of information to multiple echelons is also required to fully utilize this emerging technology.
MUM-T combines the inherent strengths of manned and unmanned platforms to produce combat overmatch while maximizing asymmetric advantage.
MUM-T, when deliberately integrated into combat operations, provides:
Target detections, tracking and engagements at longer ranges; increased survivability of manned aviation platforms from threat acquisition and weapons systems
Manned aviation platforms -increased stand-off distance from threat acquisition and weapons systems (increasing survivability) and cooperative engagements
The Warfighter -significantly expands situational awareness by providing the ability to see, understand, decide and act first
Focused and timely combat information –with increased time on station comes expanded battle command capabilities, real-time threat intel, and reduced collateral damage
Human - Human
Human - UMS
UMS - UMS
UNCLASSIFIED

22. UxS Control Segment (UCS) Architecture
Leveraging DOD initiated UCS cross-platform architecture framework to enable cross service integration of our SBIR efforts for both ground and air UMS research projects.
UCS – An open architecture for the control systems of UxS
Common basis for acquiring, integrating, and extending UxS capabilities
Evolution of STANAG 4586 (standardized UAS comm protocols/data elements)
OSD Open Business Model for future Ground Control Stations (GCS)
The UCS architecture was initiated by the Office of the Undersecretary of Defense (OUSD) to create a common DoD architecture to remove proprietary restrictions and enable simplified integrations when it comes to UAS mission services and applications.
The architecture was developed and is sustained by the UCS working group which is composed of UAS PMs, the services, small businesses, and SMEs.
It is now mandated from OSD that all future Group 2-5 UASs use a UCS compliant GCS.
UMS projects- always keep interoperability and transition in mind while performing any research.
Joint Architecture for Unmanned Systems (JAUS)- set of standards set by Society of Automotive Engineers International (SAE Int)
UCS – An open architecture for the control systems of UxS
- Based on Service Oriented Architecture Principles
- Common basis for acquiring, integrating, and extending UxS capabilities
- Evolution of STANAG (standardized communication protocols and data elements for UAS)
UNCLASSIFIED

23. On-going Research and Development
Kutta Technologies: Human-Computer Interface and Command and Control of Unmanned Aerial Vehicles for Medical Missions
A Human-Computer Interface (HCI) and Command and Control (C2) infrastructure needs to be developed for the combat medic to effectively interface with unmanned VTOL platforms for future medical operations (CASEVAC and emergency medical resupply)
Technical Approach: Two types of interfaces Soldier Radio or End User Device (EUD)
Dial-A-Drone: Allows the soldier or medic in the field to send commands to the UAS asset using currently-fielded tactical radios.
Field application for EUD (Nett Warrior): An application on a handheld device that would provide the capability to a medic, with little or no training in VTOL operation, to interact with unmanned assets at the task/goal level in order to plan and execute unmanned CASEVAC and resupply missions
Funding Source: Army SBIR Phase II
Gap: In order to realize the potential benefits of an unmanned CASEVAC and medical resupply mission capability, a Human-Computer Interface (HCI) and Command and Control (C2) infrastructure needs to be developed for the combat medic to effectively interface with unmanned VTOL platforms.
Operational Concept: Develop an application on a handheld device (e.g. Nett Warrior) that would provide the capability to a medic, with little or no training in VTOL operation, to interact with unmanned assets at the task/goal level in order to plan and execute unmanned CASEVAC and resupply missions.  
Technical Approach:
Dial-A-Drone: This patent-pending Air Vehicle (AV)-based service provides a radio-equipped forward operator the ability to control the unmanned AV with a standard PRC-152 radio. It allows the operator to provide encrypted data regarding the causality to medical personnel and allows the operator to command the AV to hold in a safe location, wave off, confirm the MGRS landing coordinates and return to base – all via voice prompts and keypad inputs.
COP application for medic EUD: This Android-based end-user device based application provides geo-tools and a bidirectional link that allows the soldier to request landing zones, approve landing, modify missions, wave off, or abort the mission, annotate the condition of a casualty.
Funding Source: Army SBIR Phase II
UNCLASSIFIED

24. On-going Research and Development
Neya Systems: VTOL (Vertical Takeoff and Landing) Evacuation and Resupply Tactical Interface (VERTI)
Technical Approach:
Android EUD compatible application for controlling Vertical Takeoff and Landing Aircraft, along with software for medical record exchange based on eTCCC card.
A telemedicine reference software architecture based on UCS (Unmanned Systems Control Segment) for managing and integrating multiple medical data streams, and transmitting over a tactical network.
March 2015: Successful demonstration of collaborative CASEVAC using an Unmanned Ground Vehicle and a K-MAX UAS using VERTI
Summer 2016: Collaborative CASEVAC using UAS and UGV in an operational relevant environment with transport telemedicine integrated with HCI and C2.
Funding Source: Army SBIR Phase II
Neya Systems: VTOL (Vertical Takeoff and Landing) Evacuation and Resupply Tactical Interface (VERTI)
Technical Approach:
A handheld controller, compatible with a variety of smartphone/tablet/wearable hardware that is compliant with large existing military programs for controlling Vertical Takeoff and Landing Aircraft, along with software for medical record exchange based on eTCCC.
A telemedicine reference software architecture based on UCS (Unmanned Systems Control Segment) for managing and integrating multiple medical data streams, and transmitting over a 4G network.
Novel C2 medical user interface suitable for small wearable device to lighten soldier load
Combination of VERTI and Navy CCS (Common Control System) to allow CCS to pass control of VTOL to VERTI, and for VERTI to send/receive medical data to CCS. Updates to CCS to handle medical data using UCS.
Funding Source: Army SBIR Phase II
UNCLASSIFIED

25. On-going Research and Development
SBIR TOPIC A14-053: Squad-Multipurpose Equipment Transport Medical Module Payload for Casualty Extraction
Gap: TRADOC PAM , Future Operating Capability 09-06, Health Services Support:
“Future Soldiers will utilize unmanned vehicles, robotics and standoff equipment to recover wounded and injured Soldiers from high-risk areas, with minimal exposure:
- Recover wounded Soldiers
- Facilitate immediate evacuation & transport…
- The ability of performing networked medical information interface support...”
Operational Concept:
Support secondary role of multi-mission UGV for expedited CASEVAC.
Provide capability to secure a casualty onto the UGV as quickly as possible, and to transmit medical information during transport back to a Casualty Collection Point
Funding Source: Army SBIR Phase II
SBIR TOPIC A14-053: Squad-Multipurpose Equipment Transport Medical Module Payload for Casualty Extraction
Gap: TRADOC PAM , Future Operating Capability 09-06, Health Services Support:
“Future Soldiers will utilize unmanned vehicles, robotics and standoff equipment to recover wounded and injured Soldiers from high-risk areas, with minimal exposure:
- Recover wounded Soldiers
- Facilitate immediate evacuation & transport…
- The ability of performing networked medical information interface support...”
Operational Concept:
To develop a medical module payload for the Squad Multipurpose Equipment Transport (SMET), or similar type of unmanned ground vehicle (UGV), for casualty extraction, assessment and transport, allowing squads to utilize nearby unmanned assets for expedited CASEVAC in future operations. The overall goal is to load and secure a casualty onto the UGV as quickly as possible near the point of injury, and to transmit medical information during transport back to a Casualty Collection Point or a Medical Evacuation Point.
Funding Source: Army SBIR Phase II
UNCLASSIFIED

26. Potential R&D Opportunities
Considerations unique to UMS in regard to medical applications need to be better understood in order to inform doctrine development and the combat casualty care research and development community
Inform trade-off decisions regarding the use of manned versus UMS for medical resupply and patient transport in future OE
Increase exposure to Warfighters of emerging UMS technology (use feedback to inform development)
Integration of Patient Monitoring and emerging En Route Care capabilities with UMS C2 infrastructure
Telemedicine interoperability standard based on UAS Control Segment (UCS) framework
Utilization of emerging dexterous robotic manipulation technology for casualty extraction and en route care applications (i.e. medical imaging, monitoring, limited intervention)
UNCLASSIFIED

27. Questions / Discussion
“The enterprise that does not innovate ages and declines. And in a period of rapid change such as the present, the decline will be fast” - Peter Drucker
Like us on Facebook!
Conclusion-
Medical Robotics Project Manager:
Government PM Medical Intelligent Systems :
TATRC Director: 27