DARPA is developing a novel robotic medical concept capable of navigating inside the human body to locate severe injuries and deliver immediate treatment, offering frontline casualties a greater chance of survival prior to evacuation.
The programme, titled Medics Autonomously Stopping Hemorrhage (MASH), uses artificial intelligence to guide sophisticated sensing technologies to wounds and autonomously apply clotting and healing agents.
In practical use, medical personnel would make a small incision in a wounded soldier’s torso, through which MASH would deploy robotic components designed to temporarily stabilise or repair life-threatening injuries.
According to the agency, the focus is not on creating entirely new robotic systems, but on upgrading proven combat medical tools with advanced autonomy, intelligent sensing, and decision-making capabilities.
The MASH initiative is planned as a two-phase programme conducted over a three-year timeline.
Phase 1, beginning in mid-2026, will address core technical challenges, including precise wound detection and autonomous clot formation.
By the 24-month milestone, researchers aim to demonstrate the system’s ability to independently identify active bleeding and locate internal wounds.
Phase 2 will finalise system optimisation and support preparation for potential operational use within a further 12-month period.
