Battelle’s Drone-Assisted Rapid Triage (DART) System Wins Again in DARPA Challenge

Breakthrough autonomous triage technology proves faster, smarter, and more capable in complex mass-casualty scenarios

COLUMBUS, Ohio--(BUSINESS WIRE)--After winning Challenge 1 last year, Battelle’s Drone Assisted Rapid Triage (DART) system has once again been recognized as the top-performing technology in the Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA) Triage Challenge. This challenge, as a three-part series, enables the U.S. to accelerate the development of national defense and public safety needs.

In mass casualty events, every second can mean the difference between life and death. Traditional triage methods often overwhelm even the most experienced responders. Battelle’s DART technology leverages AI-driven autonomy and aerial sensing to locate, assess, and prioritize victims faster and more accurately, day or night. Battelle, which had one of the only single-sourced teams, was one of four systems selected to demonstrate advanced human-machine teaming.

“DART underscores Battelle’s commitment to developing real-world solutions that empower first responders and protect lives when it matters most,” said Sam Colachis, DART PI and a Battelle Biomedical Engineer. “Our technology exceeded expectations, earning high praise from medics who tested it in staged realistic emergency conditions.”

The DARPA Triage Challenge includes three challenge events for DARPA-funded programs, with each event increasing in complexity. For the systems competition, which Battelle earned first place in, Battelle physically tested their system in mock mass casualty events staged with actors and manikins to correctly locate and assess injuries of as many casualties as possible in an allotted timeframe. In addition, Challenge 2 provided additional obstacles like degraded sensing, terrain obstacles, endurance limits, dynamic physiological changes and walking casualties.

Battelle's team CRITIC (Continuous Review and Intervention for Timely Care) placed 4^th in the data competition and received an additional award for accurately predicting airway and respiration life-saving interventions such as intubation and mechanical ventilation. In this competition, the team received data feeds they had never encountered and used their algorithms to predict which patients needed lifesaving interventions.

“Our team includes many who have served as emergency responders, so we understand how vital every second is,” said Greg Kimmel, General Manager Health Business Unit, Battelle. “Even as DART faced greater obstacles this challenge, it’s empowering to see how our team can continue to enhance our technology to better serve our country’s growing needs of first responders.”

In the third challenge taking place in 2026, Battelle’s team will be ready to tackle what is likely to be larger scale casualty events, more human-machine teaming with medics and more environmental challenges.

Battelle continues to advance DART’s capabilities to support military, humanitarian, and disaster-response operations.

About Battelle

Every day, the people of Battelle apply science and technology to solving what matters most. At major technology centers and national laboratories around the world, Battelle conducts research and development, designs and manufactures products, and delivers critical services for government and commercial customers. Headquartered in Columbus, Ohio since its founding in 1929, Battelle serves the national security, health and life sciences, and energy and environmental industries. For more information, visit www.battelle.org.