UAV-Combat Medic Collaboration for Resupply & Evacuation (CM - UAV)

A Phase I SBIR contract was awarded to PiAC in April 2007 by the U.S. Army’s Medical Research Activity, SBIR Topic OSD06-UM8.  This topic identified the emerging requirement for a Combat Medic Unmanned Aerial Vehicle (CM-UAV) system capable of delivering medical supplies in obstacle-rich, near earth and hostile environments.  This ambitious objective is driven by a current urgent need to get critical care to combat casualties within the proverbial “Golden Hour” and also to minimize risk and loss of life to the human element of the combat medic team delivering the critical care.  The challenge of developing a CM-UAV can be broken down into three major system elements: (a) Air Platform, (b) Collision Avoidance System, and (c) Mission Planning/Autonomy System & Integration with the human element of the combat medic team and its larger Army/Marine Corps System of Systems support infrastructure. 



PiAC’s Phase I contract concentrated on developing a concept of operations (CONOPS), then decomposing and translating this to functional requirements.  From those requirements, enabling capabilities and technologies were identified and trade studies conducted to determine the most effective air vehicle configuration and optimal suite of sensors.  The Phase I effort included a PiAC funded Collision Avoidance Landing Zone Selection flight demonstration. The follow-on Phase II  contract was awarded in February 2008.  This effort will provide for a systems test and demonstration on a surrogate UAV.