LIFT Aircraft announced this week that the company has been awarded a contract by the U.S Army Applications Laboratory (AAL) to design a medical multi-mission modular payload container that can carry blood supply and casualty evacuations (CASEVAC).
LIFT is collaborating with Near Earth Autonomy (NEA) to help one of the Army’s biggest challenges — the need to autonomously perform these functions within the crucial “golden hour” — the critical period immediately following trauma when rapid medical intervention significantly increases survival rates.
This contract is part of the Special Program Awards for Required Technology Needs (SPARTN) program. It uses Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) funding as a powerful innovation tool which moves at the speed of business. SPARTN reduces time to contract and time to payment so the Army can bring in the best company with the best solution,” explains the release.
Major Rickey Royal, Project Manager at AAL, commented, “The current practice of relying on crewed vehicles to provide blood resupply and CASEVAC in battleground areas has significant challenges. The Army has identified a significant need for a modular, multi-mission payload capable of climate control and telemedicine that can deploy via an autonomous aerial and/or ground platform.” He added, “An autonomous solution enables speed and efficiency in casualty evacuations and delivery of medical supplies.”
Designed for rapid deployment and integration with existing military operations, the payload system being developed by the partners is highly adaptable, facilitating easy incorporation into various transportation methods, while ensuring widespread usability. The payload is to utilise proven technologies to incorporate vital signs tracking monitors and will be climate-controlled to maintain blood temperatures.
Matt Chasen
Matt Chasen, Founder and CEO of LIFT, emphasised, “After multiple contracts with the U.S Air Force, we’re thrilled to continue our work alongside the Army with broad implications for the wider Department of Defense. The selection for this project underscores our readiness to expand into broad defence applications. We are confident that this collaboration will ultimately save lives.” At the culmination of the contract, LIFT will demonstrate the modular medical payload including LIFT’s HEXA Cargo platform, already trialled by the USAF.
NEA “has a history of autonomous aerial systems for medical logistics, including the Army Combat Medic autonomous CASEVAC helicopter program, and blood delivery in Project Crimson which was nominated for the Association for Uncrewed Vehicle Systems International (AUVSI) Xcellence in Mission, Humanitarian Award,” continues the release.
Near Earth has also developed aerial autonomy for other significant defence logistics’ programs, including USMC Logistics Connector with Honeywell and Leonardo; USMC MARV-EL with Kaman; OSD Joint Capability Technology Demonstration Unmanned Logistics System; Aerial with SURVICE Engineering; and USMC Autonomous Aerial Cargo/Utility System (AACUS) with Aurora Flight Sciences.
Sanjiv Singh, CEO of Near Earth Autonomy, remarked, “Our partnership focuses on integrating proven aircraft, autonomy and medical technologies to meet urgent battlefield needs. We plan to develop, test and demonstrate the system over the next 12 months.”
He continued, “We believe that our approach of combining existing, proven systems is the most efficient way to rapidly revolutionise battlefield medical support while minimising costs and delays.” Adding, “The sooner we demonstrate the system’s effectiveness and reliability, the sooner it can potentially be out in the field, saving lives.”
Sanjiv Singh
Background
The NEA technology allows aircraft to autonomously take off, fly, and land safely, with or without GPS. Their solutions enable aerial mobility applications for partners in the commercial and defence sectors. Near Earth “bridges the gap between aerospace and robotics with complete systems that improve efficiency, performance, and safety for aircraft ranging from small drones to full-size helicopters,” explains the release.
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(Top image: Concept visual of LIFT and Near Earth’s autonomous modular medical CASEVAC payload system)
