Autonomous Mobile Response Unit for Hard-to-Reach Incident Scenes

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Solution Overview

Problem

There is a need for improved accuracy and efficiency in dispatching personnel and equipment to incident scenes, particularly in locations that are difficult to reach.

Innovation Solution

The development of an autonomous mobile response unit, which includes an autonomous patient support apparatus and an unmanned aerial vehicle, to transport patients and medical equipment efficiently and accurately to incident scenes, even in hard-to-reach locations.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If multiple personnel are dispatched to locate and transport equipment to difficult-to-reach incident scenes, then the reliability of reaching the scene is improved, but the loss of time and reduced productivity occur due to coordination requirements

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvereliability of reaching incident sceneVSAvoidtime loss in coordination and transport

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The autonomous mobile response unit performs self-navigation and self-transport to the incident scene using onboard sensors, processors, and propulsion systems. The unit independently locates the scene via GPS and navigation systems, and autonomously transports medical equipment and patients without requiring manual coordination between multiple personnel, thereby eliminating time loss while maintaining reliability

Inventive Principle:

Principle #25Self-service

Solution Approach 2:

The patent replaces the mechanical coordination system of multiple human personnel with an autonomous control system that uses sensors, processors, and automated navigation to guide the mobile response unit to the incident scene. This substitution eliminates the time-consuming coordination inherent in manual operations while maintaining or improving reliability through consistent automated execution

Inventive Principle:

Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

2Productivity

If multiple personnel are dispatched to efficiently locate and transport equipment, then the productivity of the response operation is improved, but the device complexity and operational complexity increase

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveproductivity of response operationVSAvoidcomplexity of personnel coordination and transport operations

Core Design Contradiction:

ProductivityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The mobile response unit is divided into functional modules including propulsion systems, navigation systems, medical equipment modules, and control systems. This segmentation allows each component to perform its specific function independently, simplifying the overall operation and reducing the complexity of coordination required compared to multiple personnel working together

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The autonomous mobile response unit performs all navigation, positioning, and transport functions independently through its onboard systems, eliminating the need for multiple personnel and the complex coordination between them. The unit's self-service capability maintains high productivity while reducing operational complexity

Inventive Principle:

Principle #25Self-service

3Adaptability or versatility

If traditional dispatched assets are used to reach difficult-to-reach incident scenes, then the adaptability to various incident locations is improved, but the ease of operation and speed of response are reduced

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveadaptability to different incident locationsVSAvoidease of operating dispatched assets

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The mobile response unit features dynamically adjustable propulsion systems and navigation capabilities that adapt to various terrains and incident locations. The unit can modify its movement characteristics and routing in real-time based on environmental conditions, maintaining ease of operation while achieving high adaptability to different incident scenes

Inventive Principle:

Principle #15Dynamics

Solution Approach 2:

The autonomous mobile response unit is designed as a multi-functional platform that can transport various medical equipment modules and navigate to different types of incident locations. This universal design eliminates the need for specialized equipment for different scenarios, maintaining ease of operation while achieving broad adaptability across diverse incident types and locations

Inventive Principle:

Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

Data Source

PatentUS12315613B2Techniques for transporting autonomous patient support apparatuses and medical equipment to an incident scene

Publication Date: 2025.05.27 STRYKER CORP

AI summary

A method of transporting equipment modules to an incident scene with an comprises: determining an initial location of the incident scene; dispatching an ambulance loaded with the autonomous mobile response unit and a plurality of equipment modules to the initial location; determining a refined location of the incident scene; selecting a first equipment module; dispensing the first equipment module from the ambulance onto the autonomous mobile response unit; deploying the autonomous mobile response unit from the ambulance at the initial location; communicating the refined location of the incident scene to the autonomous mobile response unit; generating, with the navigation system, a drive path from the initial location to the refined location; and driving, with the drive system, the autonomous mobile response unit loaded with the first equipment module based on the drive path such that the autonomous mobile response unit travels from the initial location to the refined location.