United States Department of Defense Research in Robotic Unmanned Systems for Combat Casualty Care

Abstract

Abstract : Buddy treatment, first responder combat casualty care, and patient evacuation under hostile fire have compounded combat losses throughout history. Force protection of military first responders is complicated by current international and coalition troop deployments for peacekeeping operations, counter terrorism, and humanitarian assistance missions that involve highly visible, politically sensitive low intensity combat in urban terrain. The United States Department of Defense (DoD) has significantly invested in autonomous vehicles, and other robots to support its Future Force. By leveraging and augmenting funding from these efforts, the US Army Telemedicine and Advanced Technology Research Center has established a portfolio of projects aimed at developing, integrating or adapting robotic and unmanned ground and air systems to extract battlefield casualties from hostile environments and from under fire.