DARPA is advancing a new robotic medical system capable of navigating inside the human body to find severe injuries and provide immediate treatment, increasing the chances of survival for frontline casualties prior to evacuation.
The initiative, titled Medics Autonomously Stopping Hemorrhage (MASH), uses artificial intelligence to guide advanced sensing technologies to wound locations and autonomously apply clotting and healing materials.
In practical application, medical staff would make a small torso incision, through which MASH would insert robotic components designed to stabilise and temporarily repair critical internal injuries.
The agency notes that the programme is not about creating entirely new robotic platforms, but about upgrading proven battlefield medical tools with enhanced autonomy, intelligent sensing, and decision-making functions.
MASH is planned as a two-phase programme spanning three years.
Phase 1, beginning in mid-2026, will focus on core technical challenges such as precise wound detection and autonomous clot formation.
By the 24-month mark, researchers aim to demonstrate the system’s ability to independently identify active bleeding and locate internal wounds.
Phase 2 will finalise optimisation and support preparation for potential operational use within an additional 12-month period.
