Airbus Defence and Space Develops Future Radio Communications for French Ambulances
As part of the AmbuCom project, Airbus Defence and Space and its partners are optimising medical coordination between emergency personnel and hospitals.
After more than three years of research, TPL Systèmes and Airbus Defence and Space will reveal a prototype ambulance at the “Congrès National des Sapeurs-Pompiers” (CNSP) in Tours from 21 to 24 September 2016, which is the result of the French Research & Development (R&D) project “AmbuCom”.
“AmbuCom” develops the ambulance of the future and integrates sophisticated communications technology to respond more quickly and appropriately to the needs of patients following accidents or other incidents. Visitors to the CNSP will be able to inspect the vehicle and its medical devices, which are wired with tablets and multiple communications channels.
Airbus Defence and Space has contributed to the programme, which was launched by the state-funded innovation centre “ID4Car” and “Syntematic Paris-Region Digital Ecosystem”. Coordinated and led by TPL Systèmes, the project’s participants include large companies, SMEs, academic research institutes and operational services (Airbus Defence and Space, Groupe Gifa, Parsys Télémédicine, TPL Systèmes, Armines (Alès), CEA List, Service départemental d’incendie et de secours Bouches-du-Rhône, Brigade de sapeurs-pompiers de Paris). The project’s global budget is € 3.9 million, which is partly financed by the French state.
“AmbuCom is about revolutionizing the function of the ambulance as we know it today. We want to both improve first aid treatment when doctors get in touch with patients and accelerate the flow of medical information to the hospital”, said Thierry Becker, Vice-President Sales and Program Delivery Western Europe and Africa of Secure Land Communication at Airbus Defence and Space. “This new ambulance, equipped with our technology, will be pivotal to communicating highly efficiently between doctors and emergency personnel.”
Technically, the ambulance of the future will incorporate a universal communications box that transmits data wirelessly. For instance, the doctor’s first diagnosis or information from medical devices in the vehicle will be sent to control rooms or hospitals via secure radio-communications, based on Tetra or Tetrapol. The ambulance technical application also works in a Long Term Evolution (LTE) environment. Additional information can be fed into the system by peripheral equipment, such as cameras and tablets. A first prototype of AmbuCom is expected go into active service in Southern France in a few days