When we think of robots in the military, dystopian images automatically come to mind. Fortunately for us, although there are horror stories in real life, these technologies are usually created with a more noble goal. This is what we show you today, and these are robots controlled by virtual realityand they could be of assistance on the battlefield.
This is the plan of some researchers at the University of Sheffield. From their laboratories, they have begun to work in a team that they have called “telepresence”. A system that would help treat wounded soldiers on the battlefield.
With these robots, doctors and nurses could move through the lines of fire to help fallen fighters. Also, thanks to the integrated sensors, they will be able to take relevant information, such as the vital signs of the patientand even the possibility of drawing blood or moving them to safer places.
The advancement of medical warfare technology comes from the hand of virtual reality robots
Nowadays, and for a long time, being on the side of combat medics is just as dangerous as being on the front lines of battle. Not only because of the obvious danger of war, but also due to exposure to contagious diseases, pollution and the low amount of resources they have in a battle zone.
Moving patients to a safe location is also a significant effort, and can take from hours or even days.
Now, with this telepresence system called MediTel, things could change dramatically. In this way, combat medics could do their job without being on the scene of the engagement. In addition, thanks to the robot, they can take information such as their temperature, their blood pressure, and take blood samples or do buccal swabs proficiently.
Thanks to the integration of cameras, taking photos or videos of the patient’s wounds would also be of great help to doctors. Thus, they can diagnose the best treatment even before the patients reach their hands. If necessary, these robots could carry out various cures remotely.
The new generation of doctors is here
“The development of a remotely operated robotic system would significantly improve safety by reducing the amount of danger that military personnel are exposed to on the front lines,” says Sanja Dogramadzi, co-director of the project from the Department of Automatic Control and Systems Engineering at the University of Sheffield.
Our platform uses the latest technology and would integrate it in a way that hasn’t been done before.
Sanja Dogramadzi
We do not know when we will be able to see the first functional samples of this project. However, as commented in the official Web from the University of Sheffield, “the project is funded by the Defense Science and Technology Laboratory and the Nuclear Decommissioning Authority through the Defense and Security Accelerator.”
Likewise, hope to soon test the MediTel system in a realistic scenario, and demonstrate their abilities to save lives. Partners and suppliers have also joined the project, such as l3DRobotics and clinical consultants from Emergency Urgency.
