Autonomous Care, Robotics and Evacuation
This capability integrates autonomous vehicles, robotic mediators, wearable sensors, tele- and extended-reality clinical interfaces, and AI-driven decision support to stabilize, monitor, and evacuate casualties in austere, far‑forward, or prolonged‑care settings when immediate specialist care is unavailable.
Technical Challenges
Delayed evacuation and prolonged field care for polytrauma and hemorrhage control in contested environments.
Reliable autonomy and AI decision-support under degraded communications and GPS‑limited conditions.
Robust human‑robot interfaces that enable non‑specialists to perform lifesaving interventions.
Biological and environmental hazards (biofilms, infection, blast debris) that complicate robotic wound care and device sterilization.
Emerging Opportunities
Portable, validated autonomous hemorrhage control and airway management tools suitable for non‑medical operators.
Interoperable, secure comms and low‑bandwidth telemedicine that preserve clinical fidelity during evacuation.
Lightweight, ruggedized robotic platforms optimized for carriage, lift, and casualty extraction in complex terrain.
Regulatory and clinical validation pathways for autonomous interventions and remote supervisory control in austere settings.
Current and Emerging Technologies in Autonomous Care, Robotics and Evacuation
Unmanned Evacuation Platforms (UAV/UGV)
Autonomous air and ground vehicles configured for casualty pickup, en‑route care, and rapid extraction in denied or austere zones; emphasize payload stabilization, autonomous navigation, and fail‑safe return.
Robotic Point‑of‑Injury Aids
Compact robotic devices and exoskeletal assists for hemorrhage control, junctional compression, chest decompression, and stabilized splinting that enable non‑medics to apply evidence‑based interventions.
AI‑Enabled Triage and Decision Support
Machine learning models fuse physiological sensor data, imaging, and context to prioritize care, recommend interventions, and predict deterioration during prolonged or remote care.
Telemedicine with Extended Reality (XR)
Low‑latency remote guidance using AR/MR overlays and haptic feedback to guide non‑specialists and robotic manipulators through procedures in degraded comms scenarios.
Autonomous Stabilization and Biosensor Suites
Wearables and embedded sensors with closed‑loop controllers to manage hemorrhage, ventilation, and hemodynamics autonomously or under remote clinician supervision.
Importance to Military Medicine
Improve survival in delayed evacuation
Autonomous and robotic systems extend definitive interventions and monitoring during prolonged field care when rapid evacuation is impossible.
Reduce clinician cognitive and logistic burden
AI decision‑support and telemedicine enable distributed teams to manage complex polytrauma, infectious risks, and resuscitation remotely.
Operate in contested and austere environments
Robust robotic platforms and autonomous logistics maintain force readiness and casualty care where traditional medevac is denied or delayed.
Enable scalable force health protection
Technologies reduce time‑to‑treatment for common lethal injuries, improving overall unit survivability and mission continuity.
Alignment with the MTEC Mission
Accelerates transition of DoD‑relevant biomedical innovations to operational use by validating autonomous care in realistic, military‑relevant scenarios.
Leverages MTEC's consortium model to coordinate multi‑disciplinary teams—industry, academia, and military medicine—for rapid prototype testing and scaling.
Supports regulatory, clinical validation, and operational evaluation pathways that the DoD requires for fielding autonomous clinical systems.
Focuses resources on dual‑use outcomes that improve Warfighter survival while delivering civilian health benefits and commercial pathways.
Dual-Use (Military + Civilian) Applications
Disaster response and mass‑casualty evacuation in civilian settings using autonomous transport and remote triage.
Rural and EMS augmentation: tele‑supervised robotic aids to extend specialist care where transport times are long.
Hospital surge capacity: autonomous logistics, supply delivery, and remote monitoring to maintain continuity during crises.
Civilian trauma care adoption of autonomous hemorrhage control and decision‑support tools to lower prehospital mortality.
Explore MTEC Members with Autonomous Care, Robotics and Evacuation Capabilities
MTEC members bring multidisciplinary strengths—robotics engineering, clinical trauma expertise, AI/ML, regulatory experience, and operational testing—to accelerate field validation and adoption.
Collaborate with MTEC to evaluate prototypes in realistic military scenarios, access DoD end‑users for human factors testing, and navigate clinical pathway requirements.
Explore member profiles to identify partners with relevant payload design, biosensing, autonomy, and clinical trial capabilities to mature solutions from concept to deployment.
216 Members with Autonomous Care, Robotics and Evacuation capabilities.
SIMETRI is a woman-and-minority owned small business based in Winter Park, Florida, specializing in modeling, simulation, and training technologies. Founded in 2009, the company focuses on delivering innovative products and services that enhance the human experience and improve client outcomes through advanced training and program management analysis.
IQVIA is a global leader in advanced analytics, technology solutions, and clinical research services for the life sciences industry. With a mission to accelerate innovation for a healthier world and a vision to power smarter healthcare for everyone, everywhere, IQVIA leverages unparalleled data, transformative technology, and deep healthcare expertise to drive better patient outcomes. Operating in over 100 countries with approximately 88,000 employees, IQVIA supports pharmaceutical, biotech, medtech, public health, and government organizations with a comprehensive portfolio of services and solutions. The company is recognized for its Connected Intelligence™, healthcare-grade AI, and commitment to sustainability, innovation, and evidence-based insights that shape the future of healthcare globally. IQVIA is also dedicated to reducing health inequities and driving sustainable change through innovation, collaboration, and data-driven solutions, partnering with organizations worldwide to address complex healthcare challenges.
MANTECH is a premier provider of advanced technology solutions and services for national security, defense, intelligence, and federal civilian markets. With over 50 years of experience, MANTECH delivers mission-driven innovation across all domains—land, sea, air, space, and cyberspace—supporting complex operations with agility, precision, and speed. The company is recognized for its deep expertise in cybersecurity, data and AI, digital transformation, and intelligent engineering, empowering clients to achieve their goals and secure the future. MANTECH's mission is to deliver technology-driven innovation and next-generation capabilities, setting the standard for excellence and reliability in supporting critical government missions. The company is also known for its strong leadership team, culture of innovation, and commitment to professional growth and diversity.
LumenAstra, Inc. is at the forefront of developing innovative, wearable, non-invasive sensors for accurately measuring internal body temperatures. Originating from a need identified by DARPA to protect troops from heat stress, the company collaborates with the University of Colorado's Radio Frequency Lab to commercialize a patented technology. This technology, initially used for astronomical measurements, is now being adapted to monitor critical health parameters such as brain and tumor temperatures, promising to revolutionize medical monitoring and treatment.
Humanetics Corporation is a clinical-stage pharmaceutical company based in Minneapolis, Minnesota, focused on developing and commercializing products to enhance human health and wellbeing. Founded in 1988, the company specializes in radiation modulators, adjunctive oncology therapies, and pulmonary protective therapies, particularly for COVID-19. Humanetics is known for its lead drug candidate, BIO 300, which is being developed as a radioprotectant for military and civilian use, as well as a treatment to improve outcomes in cancer patients receiving radiotherapy. The company is actively engaged in research programs for non-small cell lung cancer, prostate cancer, and head and neck cancers.
Teleflex is a global provider of medical technologies designed to improve the health and quality of people's lives. The company focuses on purpose-driven innovation to empower healthcare professionals and enhance patient outcomes across various medical fields.
Physical Sciences Inc. (PSI) is an employee-owned company dedicated to inventing, demonstrating, and translating technologies that address critical national needs in defense, security, healthcare, and environmental stewardship. With over 50 years of experience, PSI combines extensive research and development capabilities with a commitment to innovation and customer focus.
Pradazka, by Integrative Mechanical Medical Devices LLC, is dedicated to revolutionizing in-patient care through innovative wireless and continuous patient monitoring technology. Their mission is to empower patients and healthcare professionals with advanced, AI-driven wearable devices that enable continuous tracking of vital signs, enhancing patient mobility, safety, and care outcomes. The company is committed to driving progress in digital health and seeks partnerships and funding to further its impact on healthcare.
VirTech Bio is an early-stage biotechnology company based in Natick, Massachusetts, focused on developing a human-derived hemoglobin-based oxygen carrier (HBOC) for use as a temporary blood substitute in trauma and transplantation. The company leverages expertise in hemoglobin polymerization to address critical needs in emergency medicine and organ preservation, with a pipeline also targeting veterinary and research applications. Process innovations allow scalable and contract-based manufacturing, supported by significant non-dilutive funding from the US Department of Defense and private investment.
Aware Custom Biometric Wearables, is a leading innovator in cutting-edge in-ear technology, specializing in superior custom hearing protection solutions and biometric hearables. Our groundbreaking in-ear solutions feature enhanced hearing capabilities, continuous monitoring, and the collection of medical-grade biometric data, all designed to enhance human performance and safeguard lives. Our commitment to innovation is reflected in our meticulously crafted in-ear devices. Thanks to our patented 3D Ear Scanner technology, we provide a custom fit tailored to the unique shape of each individual's ear which optimizes the performance of sensors. Aware is transforming the ear into a dynamic platform for health and human performance by collecting medical-grade data, delivering actionable AI-driven insights, and enabling precision therapeutics within devices we wear in our everyday lives. Our technology serves a diverse range of sectors within healthcare, military, and industrial. Proudly U.S.-based, offices in Atlanta, GA and San Diego, CA. www.AwareCBW.com.
Massachusetts General Hospital (Mass General) is a world-renowned academic medical center and the original and largest teaching hospital of Harvard Medical School. Mass General is recognized for its commitment to high-quality patient care, innovative research, and comprehensive educational opportunities. The hospital operates the largest hospital-based research program in the United States, fostering collaboration among leading clinicians and scientists to bridge innovation science with state-of-the-art clinical medicine. Mass General for Children (MGfC) is a leader in pediatric care, offering more than 50 medical specialties and 15 surgical services, and is home to the only proton beam facility in New England. The hospital is dedicated to serving local and global communities, training the next generation of healthcare professionals, and advancing medical knowledge through groundbreaking research, multidisciplinary care, and a strong commitment to family-centered and equitable healthcare.
Danforth Advisors is a strategic and operational consulting firm dedicated to supporting life science companies. They provide a comprehensive range of services tailored to the unique needs of biotech and pharmaceutical companies, from operational finance and accounting to clinical development and regulatory affairs. Their mission is to empower clients with expert guidance and flexible solutions that advance scientific innovation and drive business success.
STAT Therapeutics is focused on developing a drug- device combination for easy, rapid administration of intramuscular, life-saving medications by users in any setting, aiming to improve access and usability for acute emergency treatments such as pain, anaphylaxis, and seizures.
Altra Inc. is at the forefront of revolutionizing infusion therapy with its innovative Altra Infusion System. The company is dedicated to addressing the critical challenges in the infusion industry, such as mechanical failures, flow issues, and false alarms, which contribute to a significant portion of medication errors and adverse drug events. Altra's mission is to ensure patient safety and improve healthcare delivery through advanced technology solutions.
Tanner Research, Inc., founded in 1988, specializes in advanced electronics, micro-electro-mechanical systems (MEMS), mechanical designs, software, and autonomous robots. The company is committed to innovation and technology, aiming to solve challenging problems for clients in government, industry, and academia. With a focus on R&D, Tanner Research pushes the limits of technology to deliver unprecedented capabilities in various domains.
Pulsara is a purpose-driven healthcare technology company focused on improving the lives of patients and caregivers through innovative, real-time communication and collaboration. Their telehealth platform connects clinicians, EMS, hospitals, and emergency management teams on a single patient channel, enabling dynamic, scalable, and secure care coordination for any illness or injury. Pulsara's evidence-based solutions are designed to reduce treatment times, lower costs, and enhance experiences for both patients and providers. The company is recognized for its customer-first values, award-winning support, and commitment to privacy, security, and interoperability.
Arizona State University
ASU Crosscutting Technologies to Enhance Military Medical Readiness and Resilience
Dr. Rachel Cassalia leads MTEC-supported efforts at ASU to shift military health from reactive care to proactive readiness through data-driven prevention.
University of Pittsburgh
Topical Metformin Lotion for Tendinopathy Prevention
University of Pittsburgh study shows topical metformin prevents overuse tendon injury. This work was sponsored through MTEC project 22-02-MPAI-014.
Theradaptive
Theradaptive’s RESTORE Trial Initiation for OsteoAdapt™ DE
Theradaptive launches RESTORE Phase I/II trial of OsteoAdapt™ DE for faster, precision bone healing in craniofacial injuries. MTEC-funded study targets improved recovery for military and civilian patients.
Altec
Autonomous Rehabilitation Device for Improved Recovery in Warfighters
The OSCIR platform—developed by Altec Inc in collaboration with the Naval Health Research Center—is bringing clinical-grade, real-time movement analysis to the front lines. Funded under MTEC-22-02-MPAI