Scalable, Timely, and Accurate Triage
Making Triage Faster
The DARPA Triage Challenge (DTC) seeks to transform how medical responders triage in mass casualty incidents by advancing scalable, timely, and accurate tools.
Through a series of challenge events, DTC drives innovations in identifying vital signs of injury, locating and assessing casualties, and transmitting critical data. These breakthroughs aim to help responders prioritize care and save lives when medical resources are stretched in both civilian and military crises.
Key Competition Dates
On Sept. 26 - Oct. 3, 2025, Systems and Data teams will compete in Challenge Event 2 at Guardian Centers of Georgia in Perry, Georgia.
Tune in for the awards ceremony on Oct. 4, 2025.
What is Triage?
Triage is the process of quickly assessing patients to determine who needs medical care first — it is one of the most critical parts of responding to a mass casualty incident. When disasters such as earthquakes, large accidents, or attacks occur, there are often far more victims than available medical responders.
In those moments, a handful of medics must make rapid decisions in chaotic, dangerous conditions. If those early decisions are wrong, people may not receive the urgent care they need in time.
With new technology, autonomous systems can quickly locate and accurately assess victims in a mass casualty incidence.
Source: DARPA | Jahyra Catala, Alissa Eckert
Overview
By deploying remote technologies, we can better ensure that we get the right patients to the right level of care in the right time.
– Col. Stacy Shackelford, Trauma Medical Director, Joint Trauma System (JTS)
