Drone-Assisted Terrain Stretcher (DATS) A Human-Guided, Air-Cushion Lift-Assist Stretcher for Rescue Over Rough Terrain

That is far below an open-rotor or flying system carrying the same load. The design uses snap-in, fire-contained battery pods and a wrist twist-throttle derived from snowmobile controls. Introduction Carrying a patient over rough ground usually takes four to six rescuers, and it is slow, exhausting and prone to injury.

DATS aims to let one rescuer do that work in most terrain, and two in the hardest conditions. The design addresses the mechanical problem by transferring a substantial portion of the stretcher and patient load from the rescuers to a low-pressure air cushion. The rescuers remain responsible for direction, obstacle handling and situations in which the cushion cannot maintain an effective seal.