Feasibility of Casualty Evacuation by Unmanned Systems

Development of unmanned systems has registered unprecedented progress. They provide a wide range of tasks incontemporary battlefields and the process of finding their new applications is still ongoing. Medical support is one ofthe areas where unmanned systems have found their application as well. The aim of the paper was therefore to carryout research on feasibility of casualty evacuation (CASEVAC) by unmanned systems. Research was executed asqualitative research using methods of analysis, observation, personal experience, comparison and generalization tocomprehensively describe different aspects of CASEVAC executed by unmanned systems. Furthermore, as and quantitativeresearch using method of comparison focused on multiple parameters of unmanned systems that are essential requirementsfor fulfillment of CASEVAC tasks. Research process started with study of available documents concerning unmannedsystems their analysis based on personal experience and identification of factors that influence feasibility of CASEVAC byunmanned systems. Furthermore, we compared multiple parameters of different unmanned system solutions with requiredones and identified suitable solutions. We found out that beside unmanned aerial systems that were traditionally deliberatedfor CASEVAC tasks great development of unmanned ground and aquatic systems has been achieved. The feasibility ofunmanned systems for CASEVAC was confirmed and areas of further development have been identified. The papercomprehensively analyzes a variety of aspects that have to be taken into account when considering execution of CASEVACby unmanned systems and sort them into categories.