RE2 Robotics has received $1.1 million in Phase II Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) funding from the U.S. Army Telemedicine and Advanced Technology Research Center (TATRC) to develop a mobile robotic manipulation system that will allow combat medics to remotely assess and extract injured soldiers on the battlefield.

Known as Autonomous Casualty Extraction (ACE), the program will utilize RE2 Robotics’ dual-arm Highly Dexterous Manipulation System (HDMS) mounted to a FLIR Kobra UGV from FLIR Systems Inc., to autonomously locate a casualty in the field.

Built specifically for heavy-duty tasks, the FLIR Kobra UGV can lift more than 300 pounds. Using the system, a combat medic will be able to remotely assess a soldier’s level of injury, autonomously maneuver the injured soldier onto a Casualty Transport Device (CTD), and then tow the injured soldier back to the medic’s location.

As part of the program, RE2 will design and develop computer-vision-enhanced casualty recognition and tracking software, as well as casualty maneuvering software.

“A combat medic’s duties are extremely dangerous and demanding, and the extraction of injured soldiers in the field puts them directly in harm’s way. True to our mission at RE2, ACE allows combat medics to evaluate and extract casualties from a remote distance, protecting them from harm so that they can continue their essential work,” explains Jorgen Pedersen, president and CEO.

“By enabling the safe, autonomous transportation of casualties, ACE will also further develop our growing presence in the medical robotics industry.”

A follow-on to LIFELINE, which is RE2 Robotics’ medical module applique kit that enables a single person to lift and stow up to two litters (stretchers) on a vehicle for medical evacuation, ACE will enable medics to autonomously transport casualties to a LIFELINE-enabled ground vehicle, such as an S-MET (Squad-Multipurpose Equipment Transport).

“When combined with LIFELINE, ACE will be a significant step forward in robotics-enabled combat casualty care,” says Dr. Adam Brant, project manager.

“This technology provides a critical layer of capability in the advancement of autonomous trauma care, not just on the battlefield, but also in other situations where the treatment of injured or ill persons puts medics at risk.”