Researchers at the University of Sheffield are developing smart robots that will soon be able to provide medical care to military personnel and reduce risk during combat.
Combat medics are often at risk when rescuing their fellow soldiers, however, these robots could change that.
Furthermore, battlefield conditions often limit the medic’s ability to assess the injury properly, and in many cases, the patient must be transported out of the battlefield to a safe area for assessment as an initial measure.
The robot medic (MediTel) consists of an autonomous ground vehicle and an operating station with a human medic, set at a safe distance from battles, through which the medic can control the robot using a virtual reality headset, virtual haptic gloves, and the latest robotic surgery technology.
As a first step, the robots will be able to perform pre-medical triage, while other planned features include taking photos and videos of injuries, measuring body temperature and blood pressure, and taking blood samples.
“The project brings together world-leading robotics researchers working with engineers from the AMRC to develop medical telexistence technology”, said David King, Head of Digital Design at the University of Sheffield AMRC.
“The project builds on previous research to demonstrate the state-of-the-art technology for VR and haptic feedback for remote telepresence”, he added.
In addition to its military function, the robot medic (MediTel) can perform other tasks, such as combating epidemics, stepping in for emergency personnel in the event of nuclear disasters, and bomb disposal.
Reference: University of Sheffield
