High Altitude Platforms Mobile Robotic Telesurgery (HAPsMRT)

Abstract

This document serves as an interim report for the HAPsMRT. A prototype surgical robot from the University of Washington was deployed in an extreme environment near Simi Valley, CA. The robot controller (master) and robot (slave) were separated by approximately 100 feet. These were connected wirelessly using AeroVironment s Unmanned Airborne Vehicle (UAV). Using this system, University of Cincinnati surgeons were able to manipulate the end effectors. This demonstrated that a surgical robot could be deployed in an extreme environment and controlled by a surgeon who was remotely located from the robot using a wireless communication system (UAV) normally used for military operations.