Manned and Unmanned Solutions for Corona Patients Transport
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עברית (Hebrew)
One of the critical challenges in the treatment of COVID-19 patients is their transport to the hospital without risking the ambulance’s driver and medical staff. Several unmanned and manned solutions are available.
An autonomous shuttle capable of transporting up to 15 people will enable the transport of coronavirus patients without putting a driver at risk. The vehicle manufactured by the French company NAVYA is imported and operated by a collaborative project of the Israeli subsidiary of Singapore ST Engineering Group and Israeli BWR.
The Bar-Ilan Center for Smart Cities, in collaboration with the Sheba Hospital, Tel Hashomer, is about to start testing the autonomous shuttle.
The testing is coordinated with the Israel Ministry of Transport. After it’s completion, the autonomous shuttle will be “operationally activated” for isolated drives. In the next few months, the shuttle will operate at the Bar Ilan University campus for Autotech research and commuting students around the campus.
The vehicle is equipped with cameras, laser sensors, and high-performance guidance and detection systems supplying it with situational awareness. The vehicle is environment-friendly thanks to its 100% electric autonomous system.
The possibility of using this autonomous vehicle also for the delivery of medications, laundry, and food for the patients at the hospital’s isolation sites is also considered.
While on routine, the driverless is a perfect smart city solution for efficient, environment-friendly transportation that helps decrease traffic congestion and reduces the need for parking areas, nowadays it is a solution that saves lives.
Interested in learning more about smart city solutions? Attend i-HLS’ InnoTech Expo in Tel Aviv – Israel’s largest innovation, HLS, and cyber technologies expo – on November 18-19, 2020
A new manned solution developed by Israel’s MDA in collaboration with the IDF’s Unit 81 provides full separation between the driver’s cabin and the patient’s cabin at the MDA ambulances.
This has been achieved by installing a metal wall from floor to ceiling, creating a total sealing and isolation. The dividing wall includes a sealed, transparent window that enables the driver to look into the patient’s cabin and see the paramedic team. In addition, a microphone enables them to communicate.
The air change at the backside of the ambulance is external and differs from the one at the front part of the vehicle which includes the driver.
This ambulance has been designed for authenticated coronavirus patients with fair condition, who do not require any medical treatment during their transport.
The first batch of 50 ambulances from around Israel was already equipped with the system, and some 70 additional ones will be equipped within a few days. According to the MDA, if this pilot project is extended it will be possible to install the separation walls in 10 ambulances a day.
Interested in learning more about smart city solutions? Attend i-HLS’ InnoTech Expo in Tel Aviv – Israel’s largest innovation, HLS, and cyber technologies expo – on November 18-19, 2020 at Expo Tel Aviv, Pavilion 2.
