New Technology for Checking Soldiers' Pulse Introduced

Schematic Diagram of Bio-signal Based Intelligent Control System

[Asia Economy Military Specialist Reporter Yang Nak-gyu] With the advent of the 4th Industrial Revolution era, core technologies such as big data and AI are causing paradigm shifts across various industrial sectors. Digital smart healthcare is a field that combines "smart," referring to digital devices and IT equipment, and "healthcare," referring to medical services. Recently, due to the COVID-19 pandemic, some medical sites have introduced various methods such as self-assessment using smartphone apps, telemedicine, and real-time monitoring to prevent the spread of the virus.

These methods are evolving alongside the development of digital smart healthcare technologies and are being utilized from multiple perspectives through convergence with AI technology and big data. In the military logistics sector, due to changes in defense conditions such as the demand for life prioritization, reduction of manpower resources caused by the demographic cliff, reduction of standing forces due to shortened service periods, and unit structure reorganization, responses in the healthcare field are urgently needed. Therefore, in configuring future soldier systems, digital smart healthcare technology presents a new direction that can enhance the survivability of soldiers.

If existing technology aimed at healthcare for personal health improvement or monitoring the condition of patients with underlying diseases, the future soldier system focuses on methods to automatically assess the emergency level of soldiers on the battlefield. As a result, it can be considered one of the proactive response measures to quickly and promptly handle the process before wounded soldiers are evacuated to specialized medical institutions for treatment.

Example of Injury Severity Assessment Algorithm Based on Biological Signals

▲ Patient Condition Analysis and Intelligent Control Technology Based on Biometric Signals and Consciousness Information = Digital smart healthcare technology applied to future soldier systems can be broadly divided into two categories. First, a biometric signal monitoring system that can acquire soldiers’ biometric information in real time. In extreme environments such as battlefields, rapid mobility and movement are required, and the hardware is designed to be compact and lightweight to acquire optimal biometric information in such situations. To build a biometric signal monitoring system applicable to soldiers, it is designed as a non-invasive wearable device that does not penetrate the skin or any body orifice, aiming for an unrestricted and unconscious form. Due to the measurement characteristics of biometric signal sensors, it was developed in the form of innerwear that can be in direct contact with the human body, and biometric signal sensors suitable for analyzing the expected severity when soldiers are injured were applied.

Second, a severity assessment algorithm that analyzes and judges the biometric information obtained from soldiers. On actual battlefields, medical personnel and available supplies are insufficient, so soldiers must rely on self-assessment or the equipment they carry. Therefore, an algorithm was developed that can objectively assess the emergency level using only the acquired biometric information without external assistance. According to the severity analysis scoring methodology, four or more biometric signals such as blood pressure, heart rate, respiratory rate, and oxygen saturation were selected as necessary information to distinguish the severity of the patient.

To analyze the extent of soldiers’ injuries in detail, consciousness assessment indicators were also reflected in addition to biometric information measured by sensors. The representative consciousness assessment indicators currently used in emergency situations score clinical opinions based on the patient’s movement, speech, and pupil response. Using this, an injury severity identification algorithm suitable for the soldier’s environment was developed.

Based on biometric sensors and indicators, comparison and analysis with a trauma database are performed, and ultimately, an algorithm flow that derives the soldier’s condition and treatment classification was configured. The trauma database includes injury severity data according to biometric information parameters such as heart rate, blood pressure, oxygen saturation, respiratory rate, and body temperature. Due to the vast size of the data, it has the advantage of being usable for correlation analysis between trauma severity and key parameters through AI machine learning.

▲ The Future of Biometric Signal Monitoring = On the battlefield, threats such as bullets, shrapnel, chemical and biological attacks, and infrared surveillance constantly exist, and medical personnel and supplies are absolutely insufficient. To increase soldiers’ survivability, it is important to objectively understand their health status. Currently, the Agency for Defense Development has developed technology capable of analyzing soldiers’ physical and mental states through research optimizing intelligent survival protection functions.

A system that can assess soldiers’ emergency levels based on AI using biometric signals has been developed, and technological maturity is continuously being improved. Furthermore, by converging Korea’s excellent IT (Information Technology), BT (Biotechnology), and NT (Nanotechnology) infrastructure in this field, if various medical technologies can be integrated in the near future, it is expected that advanced technologies such as enhanced combat capabilities and automatic healing technologies can be applied to future soldier systems, dramatically improving survivability. Moreover, this technology can be applied to various fields related to biomechanics such as workers operating in extreme environments, the silver industry, and health/fitness sectors, contributing to the development of domestic science, technology, and industry.

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.