The Kranos Surgical Helmet and the delivery of medical supplies by drone were tested in simulated combat scenarios at the Santa Margarida Military Camp, as part of an initiative dedicated to the testing and validation of emerging technologies in the defence sector
4LifeLAB took part in the Operational Experimentation Campaign (OPEX), which formed part of the Army Technological Experimentation 2026 (ARTEX26) exercise, organised by the Portuguese Army between 28 September and 14 October at the Santa Margarida Military Camp in Constância. As part of this initiative, the collaborative laboratory tested two solutions with the potential to support medical assistance and access to healthcare in demanding operational situations.
One of the solutions was the Kranos Surgical Helmet, used to support the provision of pre-hospital care to a casualty, with remote guidance from a specialist. Through a real-time video transmission system, the helmet enables a healthcare professional to monitor the procedure remotely and guide the first-responder on the ground. During the demonstration, Francisco Serdoura, CEO of 4LifeLAB and an orthopaedic surgeon, monitored the procedure remotely, providing instructions to the on-site responder based on the images transmitted by the helmet.
The second solution involved the delivery by drone of an external fixation kit for the primary stabilisation of fractures. Developed by MBA Surgical Empowerment and Orthofix, the kit was transported to the intervention site by an unmanned aerial vehicle, harnessing the potential of this technology to deliver medical supplies to hard-to-reach locations.
The demonstration also benefited from the contribution of NOS, which provided the necessary communications to facilitate the exchange of information between the operator and the specialist.
For Francisco Serdoura, “the exercise provided an opportunity to validate these solutions in an operational context and to strengthen collaboration between organisations with complementary expertise in the fields of health, technology and defence. At 4LifeLAB, we develop technological solutions designed to address specific challenges, and taking part in this exercise has enabled us to bring innovation even closer to the real needs on the ground”.
The OPEX26 campaign, organised by the European Defence Agency (EDA) as part of the Hub for EU Innovation (HEDI), took place within the framework of ARTEX26, after the EDA had chosen Portugal to test the next generation of defence innovations. ARTEX26 / HEDI OPEX26 brought together representatives from 22 European nations, as well as organisations from industry and academia, involving more than 200 experts.
The initiative sought to align technological development with the specific needs of the armed forces, enabling solutions to be tested in realistic operational scenarios, assessing their potential for application, contributing to future defence capabilities and driving innovation within the defence industry and economy.
The exercise culminated in a High Visibility Event, attended by the President of the Republic and Supreme Commander of the Armed Forces, Dr António José Seguro, and featuring addresses by the Chief of the Army General Staff, General Eduardo Mendes Ferrão, who presented the main results and conclusions of the ARTEX26 exercise; the Executive Director of the EDA, André Denk; and the Minister of National Defence, Nuno Melo. Also present was the Chief of the General Staff of the Armed Forces, General João Cartaxo Alves.
The programme also included a demonstration of operational trials and a technology exhibition.
