Abstract

The current document is an individual report for the project Improved life-saving in
public urban spaces based on drone technology developed in the course 41628
Conceptualization at DTU. The document is based in the group report delivered by team
Francesco in a previous stage.
In the group report, during the need exploration loop and based on quantitative data the
team selected the improvement of first aid in urban public spaces as the main need to
be solved. In addition, the stakeholders involved were identified, their discourses were
analyzed and some design paradoxes were found. The technology exploration loop
provided the team with knowledge about the different drone technologies available and
their main usages nowadays. All the previous elements provided the team with the bases
for formulating a design task to be solve through the concept synthesis stage. During the
concept synthesis, using goal formulation and creative and systematic methods for
ideation, the team generated seven concepts, presented in a concept catalog.
The individual project work is based on a selected concept from the concept catalog and
the aim of this new stage is to take the concept through a design concept improvement
process. Both, the group and individual reports are focus on providing valuable solutions
while covering all the learning objectives of the course.

Objectives

Determine all the relevant stakeholders for the concept proposal.

Define the value of the concept proposal in the development arena.
Analyze the concept proposal based in the conceptual vulnerability.
Make improvements for the concept proposal.
Establish a basis for making the concept decision with sufficient low risk.

1.

Concept Proposal: Victim medical records drone

1.1.

Concept Summary.

Fig. 1.1 Victim clinical records drone

The victim clinical records drone consist in a quadcopter with a tablet that has 4G
network. The objective of the concept is that the witness uses the tablet to capture a picture
of the healthcare card of the victim (related to the CPR) and sent it automatically to the
paramedics. The paramedics decide what the best procedure to follow is:
telecommunication, waiting, taking special medicines or others. The drone deployment is
thought to be automatic, once that the emergency call is received and no information
about the victim is provided. The figure 2.1 shows the victim clinical records drone.
The relevant stakeholders for this concept are: the paramedics, the victim, the witness
and the public authorities. The value of the concept proposal for the different
stakeholder is presented through the idea with. Moreover, as the concept is a two
dimensional design, the idea with and idea in of victim clinical record concept are
presented in table 2.1.
Table 1.1 Idea with and idea in of the victim clinical record concept.
IDEA WITH

IDEA IN

More reliable information for the paramedics

about the victim previous diseases

A tablet scanning the health care card of the

victim is provided by the drone.

Safety feeling for the victim about the

procedures that will be done to ensure his/her
life.
The witness will have the security that the
procedures that he/she is given to the victim will
be the appropriate ones.
Public authorities can implement the concept
and improve life-saving in public urban spaces in
a short-medium period of time.

Through the app first aid crew will know if the

patient has allergies or need a special medicine.
Telecommunication through the tablet is
enabled between the first aid crew and the
witness.
The concept use a traditional drone with just
adaptions for the speaker and the tablet case.

1.2.

Concept test

As a first step of the concept analysis and in order to see if all the use activities are covered
and the required functions are realized, user characters and scenarios are developed the
following section.
1.2.1. User characters.
Two examples of different types of use character created for the first scenario analysis is
presented ahead.

1.2.2.

Scenarios.

Scenarios are done to see the strengths and weakness of the concept proposal. A scenario
of the victim clinical record drone is presented ahead.

Scenario I.
1) Morten, a 23 years old man, needs to arrive to his class on time, but is already late,
therefore he decides to cross the road before the corner because no car is on the way.
Tomas, a 47 years old man, likes driving his car fast, but he never imagines what will
happen that morning. Tomas is listening music and checking his phone when he realizes
that Morten is in the middle of the street. The speed is so high that stopping suddenly is
not a choice. Tomas car hits Morten who falls onto the street and starts bleeding, he is
unconscious. Tomas contacts dials 112, but he can only provide the accident location, no
information about Morten is available, he actually doesnt know how to explain what
the problem is.
2) Pablo works in the emergency central, he is a bit annoyed with the phone call because
the witnesses never know how to explain the problem. Anyway, when the emergency
central receives the phone call, but no information about the victim is registered,
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automatically a signal is sent to the drones roof deployment station located some meters
far from the accident.

3) After 1 minute, a victim clinical record drone arrives to the accident and gives a
message through the speaker: Please people who are not related to the accident stay
aside, we need just one person that can help. A case is coming with the drone please
take it and follow instructions
4) Tomas is losing time because the drone has no way to find him. At the end he
manages to take the case and find some printed instructions and a tablet. He realizes that
he needs to take a picture of Morten health care card. Tomas goes next to Morten, takes
the card and take the picture required, but he is moving a lot and the image is not
accepted by the app at the first try, two times more are required. In fact, Tomas feels
uncomfortable with checking Mortens body with all the bystanders staying close. He
doesnt know that the information about Morten is sent through an app that is always
running in tablet.
5) The first aid crew is on his way to the accident but there is traffic jam. They know that
a drone was sent to collect the victim's medical records and soon they will know how to
help in advance. The notification arrives and the victim, Morten, a 23 years old man, is
asthmatic. They decided to start communication with the witness and ask him to try to
make the victim wake up. Tomas is not calm at all, everything is confusing, the drone,
the instructions, even the tablet. It is hard for Tomas to handle all and also move Morten.
The video communication with the paramedics starts and he just wishes that they arrive
soon. In the meantime the paramedics can ensure that Morten is not having a crisis but
still they are preparing the salbutamol. They start guiding Tomas for first aid procedures.
The traffic is reducing, they will be there soon, but they feel the security that the victim
is not completely abandoned.

1.3.

Concept vulnerability

According to Pugh [1981] the a deliberation of a concept decision has to focus on

conceptual vulnerability: Conceptual vulnerability usually manifests itself in two ways:
Either the chosen concept is weak due to a lack of thoroughness in conceptual approach,
or the chosen concept is strong, but due to lack of thoroughness in conceptual approach
the reasons for its strength are not known or understood.
From the scenarios it is possible to see how some activities of the concept were
completely develop in the activity domain and this lead to the stakeholders confusion
and the misunderstanding of the solution. Some problems found in the scenario I can be
listed ahead:

The witness (Tomas) doesnt know to explain what the problem with the victim
(is).
The emergency operator (Pablo) doesnt know what is the best help to provide in
this case because the witness (Tomas) is not clear in his explanation.
The drone cannot find the victim easily.
The capture of the healthcare image is not always reliable.
The witness (Tomas) doesnt feel comfortable with the help that is providing
(taking the healthcare card from the victims pocket).

Some advantages found in the scenario II are as follow:

An automatic signal is sent to the drones roof deployment station.
The drone is able to arrive in 1 min.
Telecommunication with the witness is possible.
The paramedics get information about the victim healthcare history.
As it was described in the Team Francesco group report, defining the goals is part the
concept synthesis. The goals are the based for concepts evaluations .The table 2.2 shows
a weighting matrix evaluation (Pugh, 1991) of the clinical record drone concept using the
goals proposed by of the design team for the first aid improvement in urban public spaces
need.
Table 1.2 First aid improvement in urban public spaces goals
achievement through Clinical record drone concept

Goal

Explanation

Weight

Concept
rating

Concept
weighted
score

Maximum
score
possible

Decrease first aid

response time in
10%

According to different sources

response time is one of the main
challenges in the urban areas
and this is related to the patient
survival

20

20

Engage people in
life saving
process

When an accident happens there

can be many bypassers that have
the knowledge to help, but there

10

25

are not the channels/confidence

to do it.
Ensure required
energy
consumption for
the saving task.

Having enough energy to

develop the life saving task is
critical for provide a faster
response using a technological
device.

16

20

Reduce sequential
accidents in life
saving activities

In some cases when the

ambulance wants to reach faster
to the accident some other
accidents occur because
peoples unawareness

12

15

Save public
resources

Police is needed sometimes to

control the crowd and ensure the
ambulance trip. An automatic
solution will facilitate the task.

15

An easy to use
solution for the
witness

An easy interface that can be use

fast by the witness will ensure a
quick first aid help.

20

Provide a safe
solution for all
stakeholders

A solution that gathers drone

technology, devices and services
should make stakeholders feel
safe enough to continue helping
in first aid improvement in
public spaces

15

25

Provide a robust
solution

Ensuring the functionality of the

all the activities and physical
solutions of the system, will
result in high quality first aid
response

20

98

150

TOTAL

Based on qualitative and systematic methods for evaluating the concept, it is possible to
see that an improvement phase can be done in order to increase the system acceptability,
especially regarding to the usability. For the following chapter, a revision of the activity
domain of the concept is proposed, to obtain more detail and mitigate the risk of concept
selection. In addition, a deeper exploration of the technology and idea elements can be
done to reduce the concept vulnerability.

2.

Concept Improvement.

2.1.

Activity Domain.

In a deeper analysis of the activity domain of the clinical records drone it is possible to identify
six activities that have critical influence in the concept performance because a change in the
state of an operand is happening. The mentioned are described independently ahead and a
diagram of each is presented.

2.1.1. Set-up of safe area (A).

This activity occurs after the drone arrival and identification of
the victim and the witness. In this activity the emergency
operator (E.P) uses the DRONE to set-up a safe area. The goal
of the activity is to avoid the curious bystanders disturbance
and keep them aside, for the victim, the witness and their own
safety.

2.1.2. Understand
the victim needs (B).
This activity was not considered in the initial
concept proposal, but after the scenario analysis it
was clear that the drone was not offering a solution
for the lack of information about the problem that
the emergency operator had. In addition, during the
stakeholders discourses analysis did in the
exploration loop, this was part of one of the
paradoxes identified. A drone organ analysis can
identify how this activity will be done.
2.1.3. Collect victims data and healthcare
history (C).
This activity is done by the witness using the
method provided by the drone. Both the product
and the human generate an operand status
change (from no data provided, to data
obtained). As a way to improve the system
usability, the drone will use video to ensure the
victims belongings security when the witness is
looking for the healthcare card.

2.1.4. Send victim health data (D).

The concept will still use a Tablet as part as the kit,
this tablet will be equipped with an app able to send
the health care data and change the paramedics
status from no victim information to paramedics
with knowledge about the victim previous diseases.

2.1.5. Guide witness for First Aid procedure (E).

In this activity the paramedics use the Drone
telecommunication feature to guide the witness for giving
first aid. This transform the witness from an observer to an
active helper.
2.1.6. Monitor vital signs (E).
This activity was not included in the previous concept
proposal but after some researching, high technology
portable devices are been developed in the healthcare area
and they have high possibility to be feasible in a drone
application in this area. Nowadays, there are already digital
stethoscopes with connection to internet application and
real time audio sharing, oximeters, wearables, are just some
examples of the possible methods.
2.1.7. General activity domain.
The following diagram presents the all activity domain of the concept proposal. As the
general input of the solution is the victim in need with no First aid assistance. After the
all activities that include, the drone and all the relevant stakeholders, the output is victim
in need receiving high quality first aid. The input and output agree with the design task
formulated by the team and that be checked in the previous report (find a big version in
Appendix B).

2.2.

Organ domain.

As part of the organ domain, some other function were generated and identify during the
concept improvement. The organs for the improved clinical records drone concept are:

Drone parking station organ: It is the one in charge of keeping the drone on site
when it not assigned to a task.
Drone platform organ: It is all the IT system in charge of receiving drone data
about battery, location, maintenance program and issues. This organ also decide
which drone is delivered to what location.
Drone communication organ: this organ consist in the speakers, camera and other
tools that allow the drone to send information to the environment and receive it
back.
Drone identification organ: it is the organ in charge of identify people or situations
that the drone should reach.
Collecting data victim organ: it is the one that gets the data from the healthcare
card from the victim. In the initial proposal was done buy a tablet, but if this is
change in a systematic way, moving to a more reliable tools, a swiping terminal
for the health card is more robust and as it is a solution already proved and used
it doesnt increase the development cost.
Sending victim health care data organ: this organ shares the victim history data
with the first aid crew, through an app or a platform. Options should be check with
the current paramedics to be adapted to their already known system.
Guiding witness organ: This organ enables the paramedics help to the victim
through the witness. Probably, the convenience of a kit should be discussed in this
point.
Monitoring vital signs organ: This organ can be implemented as a second phase
of the design as the concept is modular and can be scalable. This organ is based
in the new medical technologies available in the market for smart measuring
devices that are portable.
Battery supply organ: As the drone will be carrying a lot of technological elements
it is interesting to think about an organ that provides power to the other devices
from the drones battery. In this way just ONE main battery should be charged
and it is easy to monitor when the level is low and requires to be charged.
Feasibility should be calculated, tested and discussed.

2.3.

Product idea.

As part of the product idea presented by Hansen

and Andreasen, 2005. To make a concept more
complete it is still necessary to go further in the
business and strategy area. To make this concept
a viable business the public authorities should be
part of its development, especially for the
regulation issues that make autonomous drones
not legal yet. On the other hand, in Denmark,
ambulances are managed by group Falck, so they
are other stakeholders that can be interested in
invest money in the project. In addition, regional
hospitals can be interested in providing trained people to do real user test of the concept
and get feedback. Medical area is one of the most challenging ones as it involves human
lives in a direct way.
For further develop the concept a group of multidisciplinary professional should address
the different keys topics. A suggestion for a multidisciplinary team is presented ahead:
1. Drones legal implications, health care data security, and personal data protection:
Lawer.
2. Market, strategy, road mapping: Business technology specialist.
3. User experience, co-creation: Design and Innovation engineer.
4. Drone electrical control: Electrical Engineer.
5. Weight distribution, materials and manufactory: Mechanical Engineer.
6. First aid common procedures: Paramedics, Nurses, doctors.
7. Integration of telemedicine and biometrics measures: Biomedical Engineer.
8. Project Manager: Mechanical/Mechatronics/Design and Innovation Engineer.

3.

Conclusion and further development.

The conceptual design is an iterative process that requires both creative and systematic
techniques to generate solutions that can innovate but also be business viable. Although
the design is a multidisciplinary process, developing the right tools to lead it, it is a
process that comes as a result of understanding each one of the inputs that the
conceptualization has. The concept proposal presented in this course has a high potential
to be further develop. Moreover a Pughs method for evaluation can be implemented for
this improved concept and the rest of the concepts presented by the team members. This
method decreases the risk for concept decision taking and facilities the integration of
concepts that are good a similar. According to literature (Pugh, 1991), the method should
be run several times to achieve controlled convergence that allows the team to still think
divergently about the problem and not constrain creative thinking. Moreover, the concept
synthesis is an iterative process, based in theoretical models that helps to keep a structure
approach. Prototyping is suggested to test the different features of the concept in a lower
cost and with few time consumption. However, the designer should be aware of the
purpose of prototyping to take the biggest advantages of it.

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