The LIFELINE system is a medical module applique kit that can easily be installed on either a manned or unmanned vehicle

PITTSBURGH, PA — RE2 Robotics, a leading developer of robotic manipulation systems, announced today that the company was awarded a Phase III Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) grant from the U.S. Army SBIR office and the U.S. Army Medical Research Acquisition Activity (USAMRAA) to continue the development of its LIFELINE system, which is designed to assist combat medics in the field.

The LIFELINE system is a medical module applique kit that can easily be installed on either a manned or unmanned vehicle. LIFELINE enables a single person to lift and stow up to two litters (stretchers) on a vehicle for subsequent medical evacuation, thereby reducing the cognitive and physical burden on combat medics as they focus on their life-saving work.

During Phase II of the program, the Company successfully demonstrated the use of LIFELINE on a Lockheed Martin Squad Mission Support System (SMSS). The Phase III contract will allow RE2 Robotics to support hardware upgrades to the system so that it can be adapted for alternate S-MET (Squad-Multipurpose Equipment Transport) vehicles, and will culminate in a live demonstration during an S-MET Assessment event at Ft. Benning, Ga.

“Every S-MET vehicle has a unique platform design and requires modification to the LIFELINE system for full functionality,” said Jorgen Pedersen, president and CEO of RE2 Robotics. “This program allows us to expand the use of our technology onto additional transport vehicles, which will showcase LIFELINE’s modularity and intuitive operation.”

This work is supported by the US Army Medical Research and Materiel Command under Contract No. W8IXWH-16-C-0062. The views, opinions and/or findings contained in this report are those of the author(s) and should not be construed as an official Department of the Army position, policy or decision unless so designated by other documentation.

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