GB2635308A

GB2635308A - Evacuation pod

Info

Publication number: GB2635308A
Application number: GB2313807.6A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Stubbs Robert; David Midha Owen; Damien Ridings Marc; Cayzer Fiona; Anthony Appleton Neil
Original assignee: BAE Systems PLC
Current assignee: BAE Systems PLC
Priority date: 2023-09-11
Filing date: 2023-09-11
Publication date: 2025-05-14
Also published as: GB202313807D0; WO2025056877A1

Abstract

The present invention relates to an evacuation pod 200 suitable for transporting a human patient 20. The evacuation pod 200 comprises a hollow elongate body having a closable opening 202 located at least at one end of the elongate body. There is also provided attachment means 205 on the pod 200 for engaging with compatible attaching means of a UAV 100, and communications means 240 for transmitting and receiving data. The date to be transmitted may comprise of patient information such as temperature, blood pressure, electrocardiogram, oxygen saturation and end-tidal CO2. The evacuation pod may also provide the delivery of oxygen, drugs and blood to a patient. The pod may comprise emergency landing apparatus comprising a parachute, retro rockets or an airbag.

Description

EVACUATION POD

FIELD

The present invention relates to a medical casualty evacuation pod and associated apparatus, and specifically to an evacuation pod suitable for 5 detachable engagement and transit with an unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV).

BACKGROUND

Casualty evacuation, also known as CASEVAC is a military term for the emergency patient evacuation of casualties from a combat zone. CASEVACs by air today are almost exclusively done by helicopter, although other vehicles (air, land or water-borne) may also be employed. Medical evacuation (MEDEVAC) typically describes using a standardized and dedicated vehicle (e.g. an ambulance) to transport a patient accompanied by a medical professional who provides en-route care, while a CASEVAC uses non-standardized and non- dedicated vehicles (e.g. a light utility vehicle) that may or may not provide en-route care. If a call for a CASEVAC is made on the battlefield, the closest available unit with space could be called to assist, regardless of its medical capabilities. Current CASEVAC platforms are subject to limitations, such as: Unable to enter non-permissive areas due to the environment (e.g. mountainous terrain, poor visibility conditions); Unable to enter non-permissive areas due to danger to life (e.g. live firefight, or a chemical, biological, radiological, or nuclear (CBRN) attack); Can be unavailable for CASEVAC as they are occupied elsewhere or are simply too costly to run for CASEVAC operations; Not low profile, thus there is a potential of signposting the combatant and casualty position to adversaries.

The present invention attempts to address at least some of these limitations.

SUMMARY

According to an aspect of the present invention, there is provided an evacuation pod for transporting a patient. The pod comprises a hollow elongate body, suitable to receive a human patient. The elongate body has a closable opening located at least at one end of the elongate body, and attachment means -2 -on the pod for engaging with suitably compatible attaching means of a UAV. There is also provided communications means for transmitting and/or receiving data to and from the pod and a control station. The pod allows for the emergency evacuation of a casualty or patient via an autonomous or remotely piloted UAV Preferably, the evacuation pod also comprises securing means for securing a medical stretcher in place inside the elongate body of the pod. This prevents the stretcher and or/patient moving during transport which may affect the control of the UAV, and/or injure the patient. Preferably still, the pod comprises a sliding sled adapted to extend in and out of the at least one opening and allow a stretcher to be easily inserted in and extracted out of the elongate body of the pod.

In one example the pod comprises passive medical devices adapted to collect patient data, including at least one of temperature, blood pressure, electrocardiogram (ECG), oxygen saturation and/or end-tidal CO2. This data can then be transmitted via the communication means and monitored remotely by a medical team.

In another example, the pod comprises active medical devices adapted to deliver oxygen, drugs, and/or blood to the patient during transit.

In another example, the pod comprises an environmental control system to control at least one of temperature, lighting and humidity inside the pod. This helps improve patient comfort and or safety.

In an example wherein the pod comprises at least one or more of a passive medical device, active medical device and/or an environmental control system the pod may comprise a central computer adapted to manage communications 25 between any onboard system and the communications means.

In another example, the pod comprises an emergency release mechanism which is operable to disengage the attachment means and separate the UAV from the pod.

In another example, the pod may be provided with an emergency landing apparatus, including at least one of a parachute, retro rockets, and airbags.

In one example, the pod comprises an explosive charge adapted to open the at least one closable opening in an emergency.

In another aspect of the invention, there is provided a system comprising a UAV and an evacuation pod according to previous examples. Preferably, the -3 -UAV comprises attachment means for engaging with the attaching means of the pod.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES

Embodiments of the invention will now be described by way of example only with reference to the figures, in which: Figure 1 shows an example of the present invention comprising a UAV and an evacuation pod; Figure 2 shows a schematic diagram of another example of the present invention; and Figure 3 shows a schematic diagram of a further example of the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

An unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) is typically powered, aerial vehicle that does not carry a human operator, and can fly either autonomously or be piloted remotely (i.e. a remotely piloted aircraft of "RPA"). The term unmanned aerial system (UAS) includes the entire system that supports and controls the UAV. This may encompass ground control stations, data links, and any other components required for the UAV's operation.

In a first example of the present invention, and as shown in Figure 1, there is provided an evacuation system 10 comprising a UAV 100 and an evacuation pod 200. The UAV 100 is adapted to engage with, rigidly attach to and carry, the evacuation pod 200, to provide safe casualty/patient accommodation, transport and care. The UAV 100 is also adapted to land the evacuation pod 200 safely, disengage, and fly away unencumbered. The UAV 100 is a heavy-lift drone suitable to lift the weight of the pod, the associated equipment, and a human body, e.g. typically 200-300kg. In the example shown, the UAV 100 is a quadcopter type vehicle, however it will be appreciated that other types of UAV would be suitable for the present invention, e.g. fixed wing, or multi-rotor of 6 or more rotors to provide redundancy.

Figure 1 shows the UAV 100 detached from, and flying above, the pod 200 which is situated on the ground. -4 -

The pod 200 is an elongate hollow vessel suitably sized and shaped to carry a human patient inside. The pod 200 has at least one opening 202 at one end with a closable door (or doors) to allow a patient to be inserted and removed from the pod 200. Preferably the pod 200 is openable at either end so as to allow 5 ingress and egress from the pod 200 should either end be obstructed. The pod 200 is suitably adapted to accept and carry a medical stretcher 230, e.g. by comprising a sliding sled apparatus to ease insertion and retrieval of a stretcher in and out of the pod 200. The pod 200 is also provided with an internal locking mechanism to lock and secure the stretcher in place once inserted into the pod 10 200, and prevent movement of the stretcher and patient during transport. When the door(s) of the opening(s) 202 are fully closed, the pod 200 is suitably enclosed and the patient is protected from the outside environment, and secured from accidentally exiting the pod 200 during transit. Whilst the door(s) of the opening(s) 202 are securely closed, they can be opened by both the patient and external personnel (either on-site or remotely) when needed.

In one example, the pod 200 also comprises a small explosive charge (e.g. cutting cord, or linear cutting charge) located around the edge of the door(s) of the at least one opening 202. In the event of an emergency, the charge may be detonated, blowing the door(s) off its hinges/supports, and away from the opening 202 and the pod 200. This allows emergency access for the patient to escape, or for outside personnel to access the patient. The charge may be detonated by either the patient inside the pod 200 for emergency exit, or by personnel outside of the pod for emergency access in the event that the door(s) of the at least one opening 202 are jammed/locked or unable to open. The charges may also be detonated remotely by the control station 300. There may also be provided an emergency release on the doors to enable them to be mechanically opened and/or removed from the pod 200 in an emergency.

In one example, the pod 200 may be provided with retractable landing gear, e.g. wheels or legs. This would provide stability to the pod when on the ground, and allow safe ingress and egress of the patient. Once the pod 200 is off the ground, the legs and/or wheels can be retracted to help improve the aerodynamics of the pod 200.

The pod 200 may attach/connect to the UAV 100 via any number of attachment means 205. In a preferred example, the top of the pod 200 connects -5 -securely with the underside of the UAV 100. However, it will be recognised by the skilled person that other configurations of attachment are within the scope of invention. For example, the UAV 100 may be provided with lifting "arms" that extend below the UAV 100 fuselage and connect on either side of the pod 200.

The UAV 100 may be adapted to carry a range of different payloads, including the evacuation pod 200, and the attachment means 205 on the pod 200 will be suitably adapted to mate with and engage the UAV 100 attachment means 205. The pod 200 should remain firmly/rigidly attached to the UAV 100 during transport for better control of the UAV 100, and for patient comfort and safety, e.g. not swinging, rotating or moving beneath the UAV 100. The pod 200 is not suspended or tethered by a rope or cable beneath the UAV 100. Instead the UAV 100 and pod 200 will attach to each other via a rigid lock and release system 205. For example, this might involve an electronically actuated lug moving in an out of a void, or a number of retractable latches and opposing keeps. Alternatively, or in addition, the UAV 100 and pod 200 attachment means 205 may employ a strong electromagnet to secure the pod 200 to the UAV 100 for transport. It will be appreciated by the skilled person that multiple lock and release mechanisms are suitable for releasably attaching the pod 200 to the UAV 100.

Further details of the pod are shown in Figure 2. The pod 200 may comprise an environmental control system 260 to control internal conditions such as temperature, lighting and humidity within the pod 200. This ensures the comfort and safety of the patient 20 when being transported. The pod 200 may also be hermetically sealed when the at least one openings 202 are closed so that air pressure inside the pod 200 can be controlled and regulated. The pod 200 may also be provided with an air-filtration system in case the UAV 100 has to transport the pod 200 through a contaminated area, e.g. that affected by a CBRN attack.

In one example, a manual override apparatus is provided to the pod 200 so the patient 20 or external personnel (either on-site or remotely via a communication means) can manually disengage the attachment means 205 and release the pod 200 from the UAV 100. This allows the UAV 100 to be freed from the pod 200 in an emergency, e.g. when electronically actuated locking mechanism should fail. -6 -

In one example, the pod 200 is provided with an emergency landing system, to allow for emergency release and detachment from the UAV 100 before the UAV 100 has landed and released the pod 200 on the ground. This could be used in the event of a system failure in the UAV 100, or if the UAV has been targeted by enemy fire. In one example this emergency landing system may be at least one parachute deployable from the pod 200. In another example, the pod 200 is provided with an airbag system to allow the pod 200 to be released and dropped from the UAV 100 when above the ground or water. The airbag system may comprise airbags deployed on the outside and/or the inside of the pod 200.

Preferably, the pod 200 is suitably watertight when closed so as to be buoyant in water, even when encumbered with a the added weight of a patient 20. If the pod 200 should have to be released over water it will float. In addition to, or perhaps instead of, a passive buoyancy, there may also be provided an active floatation system. In one example airbags may also be automatically deployed to provide additional buoyancy in water. In another example, the emergency landing system comprises multiple retrograde/retro rockets to slow the pod 200 down as it is released from the UAV 100 above the ground. In this example, the pod 200 also comprises a system employing gyroscopes and/or accelerometers to determine the alignment/orientation of the pod 200 so as to fire the retro rockets correctly and maintain the correctly orientation of the pod 200 as it falls.

The pod 200 may also be provided with an independent locator beacon, separate to that of the UAV 100, e.g. GPS receiver and transmitter. This can be used by a UAV 100 and/or associated ground control team 120 to locate the pod 200 for transport, and for a ground team to locate the pod 200 after landing.

In a desired example, the pod 200 is provided with wireless communications means 240 to transmit and/or receive data to a ground control station 300. It is also envisioned that in some examples the control station 300 could be located on a ship, another naval platform or vessel, or even another aircraft. The data may include transmitted medical data about the patient 20, received control instructions on how to operate or control medical devices and apparatus in the pod 200, and/or visual/audio communications, as examples. The communication may be one-way communication, e.g. information transmitted to the patient 20, or from the pod 200 to the control station 300 transmitting patient information to remote medical staff 310, and/or two-way communication between -7 -the patient 20 and remote medical staff 310. For example, the pod 200 may be provided with a display screen located on the inside ceiling of the pod 200 above the patients head, and/or by speakers inside the pod 200. The patient 20 may be informed of an upcoming manoeuvre (e.g. a steep turn, or a hard landing) so that they can prepare themselves, or the status of the UAV 100 (e.g. "doors locked"). The patient 20 may also communicate with external/remote team members at a control station 300, e.g. medical staff 310 or pilots 320, via the communications means 240, using a microphone and/or a video camera. The system allows two-way video communication between the patient 20 and a medical support team 310 monitoring the patient 20. In one example, data is transferred and communications are established wirelessly directly between the on-board communications means 240 to and from a control station 300. In an alternative example, the pod 200 may connect to the UAV 100 and utilise the UAV 100 communications means to transmit data and communicate with a control station 300.

As shown in Figure 3, the pod 200 is preferably provided with a range of passive medical devices 210 and apparatus to monitor the patient's vital statistic, e.g. heart rate, temperature, electrocardiogram (ECG), non-invasive blood pressure, oxygen saturation, and/or end-tidal CO2. These readings can be transmitted via the communications means 240 to a ground-based medic 310 at the control station 300.

The pod 200 may also comprise supplies, systems and devices able to remotely deliver oxygen, blood or other drugs intravenously to the patient, e.g. active medical devices 220. These might also include an autonomous automated external defibrillator (AAED) and/or a ventilator. There may also be provided invasive sensors and/or robotically assisted (RAS) / semi-autonomous medical care which utilises live monitoring data from the patient. These devices and apparatus can be monitored and controlled remotely by a medical professional. The pod 200 may also be provided with an analgesic delivery system which can be operated by either the patient or a remote medical professional.

In some examples, the pod 200 comprises a central computer to manage the passive and active medical devices 210, 220, the communications means 240 and the environmental control 260. The central computer may gather information and handle transmission and receiving of data and instructions to and -8 -from the ground control station. In a first example, the individual medical and communication devices are connected wirelessly to the central computer. In another example the pod 200 comprises an integrated wired network to transfer data and signals between the range of medical and communication devices.

Ethernet ports around the inside of the pod 200 can be utilised to connect items into this network, and to the central computer.

In one example, there is no internal electrical system inside the pod 200 and any items which require electric power within the pod 200 are powered by integral batteries. In another example, there is provided an internal electrical power system which provides power to at least some of the items which may require it. The power can be supplied either by at least one battery, and/or draw power from the UAV 100 whilst the pod 200 is connected to the UAV 100.

The medical UAV 100 pod 200 system 10 is capable of extracting injured personnel from non-permissive environments, where the risk of utilising conventional manned helicopter assets may be too high. The UAV platform also shows benefits when manned rotary assets are engaged elsewhere and a rapid extraction is required, or in environments where a low profile movement of the casualty is beneficial. When extracting patients from dangerous and non-permissive environments, is it desirable to provide the pod 200 and UAV 100 with protection against potential threats, such as incoming fire. In some examples, the pod 200 may be provided with in-built countermeasures to help protect the UAV 100 and the pod 200 during loading, transport and unloading of the patient. These may include, but are not limited to deploying a smoke screen, flares, chaff, EM jamming, laser detection, flash detection, infrared defence capability and other countermeasures. It is also desirable to protect the patient 20 from any potential incoming small arms fire. Therefore in some examples the pod 200 is provided with spall liners to protect the patient 20 inside the pod 200 from fragmentation released from the impact of shells, especially high-explosive squash head warheads. For example, the spall liners may be made of aramids (Kevlar, Twaron), UHMWPE (Dyneema, Spectra Shield), or similar materials. The pod 200 may also be provided with lightweight composite armour, i.e. consisting of layers of different materials such as metals, plastics, ceramics or air. In other examples, it is envisioned that the pod 200 be provided with external bullet proof panelling, and/or weaving a material such as Kevlar into carbon fibre. -9 -

In an example, the casualty/patient 20 is treated and loaded onto a stretcher 230. The UAV 100 is called and will bring the pod 200 to the patient 20, who is then loaded onto the sled device inside the pod 200, which locks into place for transit. The patient 20 is rapidly extracted to the nearest appropriate area of 5 safety. A remotely based medic 310 will be able to communicate with the patient 20 while in flight and environmental controls 260 will help in maintaining the casualty's body state.

In another example, the pod 200 will be capable of undertaking medical vital signs monitoring and delivering medical care via passive and active medical devices 210, 220. The remote medic 310 will be able to view a live stream of medical data and direct the patient 20 to self-care, e.g. through taking medication. As technology and regulations evolve, this care will become semi-autonomous, with care decisions made by a computer based upon the live medical data. This is known as Robotically Assisted CASEVAC (RASEVAC).

Whilst many of the examples above have focussed on the military scenarios, it will be appreciated by the skilled person that the present invention may also provide solutions to carriage of injured people, medical personnel and equipment in non-military use cases such as disaster relief, search and rescue and emergency services.

Claims

CLAIMS1. An evacuation pod 200 for transporting a patient 20, the pod comprising: a hollow elongate body, suitable to receive a human patient 20, the elongate body having a closable opening 202 located at least at one end of the elongate body; attachment means 205 on the pod 200 for engaging with attaching means of a UAV 100; and communications means 240 for transmitting and/or receiving data.
The evacuation pod 200 according to claim 1, comprising securing means for securing a medical stretcher 230 in place inside the elongate body of the pod 200.
The evacuation pod 200 according to claim 2 comprising a sliding sled adapted to extend in and out of the at least one opening 202 and allow a stretcher 230 to be easily inserted in and extracted out of the elongate body of the pod 200.
The evacuation pod 200 according to any preceding claim, comprising passive medical devices 210 adapted to collect patient 20 data, including at least one of: temperature; blood pressure; electrocardiogram (ECG); oxygen saturation; and/or end-tidal CO2.
The evacuation pod 200 according to any preceding claim, comprising active medical devices 220 adapted to deliver oxygen, drugs, and/or blood to the patient 20. 2. 3. 4. 5.
The evacuation pod 200 according to any preceding claim, comprising an environmental control system 260 to control at least one of temperature, lighting and humidity inside the pod 200.
7. The evacuation pod 200 according to any of claims 4 to 6, comprising a central computer 250, wherein the central computer 250 is adapted to manage communications between any onboard system and the communications means 240.
8. The evacuation pod 200 according to any preceding claim, comprising an emergency release mechanism operable to disengage the attachment means 205.
9. The evacuation pod 200 according to any preceding claim, comprising emergency landing apparatus, including at least one of: a parachute; retro rockets; and airbags.
10. The evacuation pod 200 according to any preceding claim comprising an explosive charge adapted to open the at least one closable opening 202 in an emergency.
11. A system 10 comprising: a UAV 100; and the evacuation pod 200 according to claims 1 to 10.
12. The system according to claim 11, wherein the UAV 100 comprises attachment means for engaging with the attaching means 205 of the pod 200.