Leveraging Federated Satellite Systems for Unmanned Medical Evacuation on the Battlefield
This paper evaluates the role of federated satellite systems (FSSs) in enhancing unmanned vehicle-supported military medical evacuation (MEDEVAC) missions. An FSS integrates multiple satellite systems, thus improving imaging and communication capabilities compared with standalone satellite systems....
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| Language: | English |
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MDPI AG
2025-03-01
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| Series: | Sensors |
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| Online Access: | https://www.mdpi.com/1424-8220/25/6/1655 |
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| author | Kasper Halme Oskari Kirjamäki Samuli Pietarinen Mikko Majanen Kai Virtanen Marko Höyhtyä |
| author_facet | Kasper Halme Oskari Kirjamäki Samuli Pietarinen Mikko Majanen Kai Virtanen Marko Höyhtyä |
| author_sort | Kasper Halme |
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| description | This paper evaluates the role of federated satellite systems (FSSs) in enhancing unmanned vehicle-supported military medical evacuation (MEDEVAC) missions. An FSS integrates multiple satellite systems, thus improving imaging and communication capabilities compared with standalone satellite systems. A simulation model is developed for a MEDEVAC mission where the FSS control of an unmanned aerial vehicle is distributed across different countries. The model is utilized in a simulation experiment in which the capabilities of the federated and standalone systems in MEDEVAC are compared. The performance of these systems is evaluated by using the most meaningful metrics, i.e., mission duration and data latency, for evacuation to enable life-saving procedures. The simulation results indicate that the FSS, using low-Earth-orbit constellations, outperforms standalone satellite systems. The use of the FSS leads to faster response times for urgent evacuations and low latency for the real-time control of unmanned vehicles, enabling advanced remote medical procedures. These findings suggest that investing in hybrid satellite architectures and fostering international collaboration promote scalability, interoperability, and frequent-imaging opportunities. Such features of satellite systems are vital to enhancing unmanned vehicle-supported MEDEVAC missions in combat zones. |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-6a195bf92f3f4890b420d9b3d2e3b534 |
| institution | Kabale University |
| issn | 1424-8220 |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2025-03-01 |
| publisher | MDPI AG |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Sensors |
| spelling | doaj-art-6a195bf92f3f4890b420d9b3d2e3b5342025-08-20T03:43:54ZengMDPI AGSensors1424-82202025-03-01256165510.3390/s25061655Leveraging Federated Satellite Systems for Unmanned Medical Evacuation on the BattlefieldKasper Halme0Oskari Kirjamäki1Samuli Pietarinen2Mikko Majanen3Kai Virtanen4Marko Höyhtyä5Department of Military Technology, Finnish National Defence University, 00861 Helsinki, FinlandSafe and Connected Society, VTT Technical Research Centre of Finland Ltd., 02044 Espoo, FinlandSafe and Connected Society, VTT Technical Research Centre of Finland Ltd., 02044 Espoo, FinlandSafe and Connected Society, VTT Technical Research Centre of Finland Ltd., 02044 Espoo, FinlandDepartment of Military Technology, Finnish National Defence University, 00861 Helsinki, FinlandDepartment of Military Technology, Finnish National Defence University, 00861 Helsinki, FinlandThis paper evaluates the role of federated satellite systems (FSSs) in enhancing unmanned vehicle-supported military medical evacuation (MEDEVAC) missions. An FSS integrates multiple satellite systems, thus improving imaging and communication capabilities compared with standalone satellite systems. A simulation model is developed for a MEDEVAC mission where the FSS control of an unmanned aerial vehicle is distributed across different countries. The model is utilized in a simulation experiment in which the capabilities of the federated and standalone systems in MEDEVAC are compared. The performance of these systems is evaluated by using the most meaningful metrics, i.e., mission duration and data latency, for evacuation to enable life-saving procedures. The simulation results indicate that the FSS, using low-Earth-orbit constellations, outperforms standalone satellite systems. The use of the FSS leads to faster response times for urgent evacuations and low latency for the real-time control of unmanned vehicles, enabling advanced remote medical procedures. These findings suggest that investing in hybrid satellite architectures and fostering international collaboration promote scalability, interoperability, and frequent-imaging opportunities. Such features of satellite systems are vital to enhancing unmanned vehicle-supported MEDEVAC missions in combat zones.https://www.mdpi.com/1424-8220/25/6/1655federated systemsmedical evacuationsatellitessimulationunmanned vehicles |
| spellingShingle | Kasper Halme Oskari Kirjamäki Samuli Pietarinen Mikko Majanen Kai Virtanen Marko Höyhtyä Leveraging Federated Satellite Systems for Unmanned Medical Evacuation on the Battlefield Sensors federated systems medical evacuation satellites simulation unmanned vehicles |
| title | Leveraging Federated Satellite Systems for Unmanned Medical Evacuation on the Battlefield |
| title_full | Leveraging Federated Satellite Systems for Unmanned Medical Evacuation on the Battlefield |
| title_fullStr | Leveraging Federated Satellite Systems for Unmanned Medical Evacuation on the Battlefield |
| title_full_unstemmed | Leveraging Federated Satellite Systems for Unmanned Medical Evacuation on the Battlefield |
| title_short | Leveraging Federated Satellite Systems for Unmanned Medical Evacuation on the Battlefield |
| title_sort | leveraging federated satellite systems for unmanned medical evacuation on the battlefield |
| topic | federated systems medical evacuation satellites simulation unmanned vehicles |
| url | https://www.mdpi.com/1424-8220/25/6/1655 |
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