Imaging components for a robotic casualty evaluation system.
Combat medics have a vital role in the protection of wounded soldiers in the battlespace. However, their duties expose them to great risks. Furthermore, these medics are a limited resource and must be carefully tasked in order to provide maximum benefit to their units. For these reasons, we are applying the American GNC Corporation's (AGNC) Coremicro(R) Robotic System for autonomous evaluation of battlefield casualties. These robots are intended to navigate to a casualty, determine his/her overall health status, and perform limited diagnostic imaging in order to assess the presence of injuries that would prevent or complicate extraction. In this paper, we describe development work on some of the key components of the proposed robotic system, namely the overall concept of operations (ConOps) and initial testing of infrared and ultrasound imaging cameras. When fully deployed, this system will act as a medical force multiplier, enabling improved care of wounded soldiers and protecting the health and safety of military medical personnel.
Wong
Kenneth H
KH
Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University, Alexandria, VA, 22314, USA. khwong@vt.edu; email: munsk@vt.edu
Lob
Shih-Chung
SC
Lin
Ching-Fang
CF
Lasser
Bob
B
Mun
Seong K
SK
D001185:Artificial Intelligence; D020000:Decision Support Systems, Clinical; D006801:Humans; D007090:Image Interpretation, Computer-Assisted / Q000295:instrumentation* / Q000379:methods; D012371:Robotics / Q000295:instrumentation*; D014218:Triage / Q000379:methods*; D014857:Warfare; D014947:Wounds and Injuries / Q000175:diagnosis*