WearAble for Litter-Carry Mission AssistaNce (WALC-MAN)

Service Member (SM) medical evaluations often require labor-intensive litter-carry procedures.Ā Litter carry teams consisting of two or four SMs are subject to high fatigue as they move casualties from advanced positions to safe locations to receive care.Ā Further, during transportation, the litter bearers are required to not only tend to the injured, but also defend themselves from adversaries and conduct other mission-critical tasks. The evacuation route may also be long and arduous, crossing difficult terrain. These factors compound complications, risks to personnel safety, and increasing physical demand. The United States Army Aeromedical Research Laboratory (USAARL) has identified a need to develop litter carry assistive devices to both reduce litter-bearer fatigue and reduce litter-carry team size without affecting mission requirements related to defense, operation of medical and transportation equipment, and personnel safety.Ā Advancements in exoskeleton and wearable assistive devices show promise to meet current needs, but the USAARL has identified several challenges and design characteristics to consider for these technological developments. Outpost Technologies and Auburn University have developed solutions of varying complexity and application for further investigation under a Phase I STTR to develop a load assist mechanism for litter-carry.Ā More concepts shall be developed and assessed during a Phase I effort.Ā Future concepts shall combine features of the three options shown below and incorporate differing ideologies and capabilities from further investigation.Ā The DHA customer has stated that a design trade study shall be conducted weighing the internal and external design characteristics, (PPE) and evacuation duty, load effects to SM and patient, movement and environmental durability/survivability, storage, transportation, and deployment requirements, safety, and reliability.Ā This program, called WearAble for Litter-Carry Mission AssisstaNce (WALC-MAN) shall develop concepts, perform trade studies, present results, and fabricate 2 concepts for delivery to the DHA.Ā Outpost and Auburn University have identified options for further assessment, including Dr. RoseÆs SPAR Glove, mechanisms inspired by birds of prey talons and flexor tendons, and weightlifting equipment.Ā A broad technology assessment from academia, athletics, and nature provides variation of ideas necessary to develop concepts under this effort. These concepts shall fill the technology gaps in the passive-active spectrum while also presenting valuable options to the DHAÆs trade space for evaluation.