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DASA launches competition to develop autonomous systems to help troops cross water

Land January 2, 2020

DASA has launched a competition to find autonomous systems for reconnaissance and surveys to help troops crossing water into enemy territory.

The Defence and Security Accelerator (DASA) is launching a competition to develop autonomous systems to help troops safely and stealthily advance into enemy territory over water. The military need to be able to cross obstacles such as rivers, streams, bogs and other so-called ‘wet gaps’.

Currently, the only way of identifying suitable crossing points is to send Royal Engineer reconnaissance troops to survey both banks of the river – exposing them to danger which also risks compromising the operation by signalling interest in that location to the enemy. DASA, on behalf of the Defence Science and Technology Laboratory (Dstl), is seeking ideas from industry and academia to create a new remote system capable of surveying potential crossing sites by gathering data on both sides of the water.

A DASA spokesperson said: “We are open to any novel or innovative solution to this challenge. Our vision is to ultimately remove personnel from these dangerous tasks with a remote system that allows more crossing locations to be surveyed, increasing the choices available to commanders and giving an opportunity to surprise the enemy.”

“We are looking for collaborative bids from the brightest and the best of industry and academia to create an innovative and unique capability.”

DASA: Official partner of DPRTE 2020.

The Map the Gap: Autonomous Gap Crossing Survey competition will have an initial £1.2m available in funding for Phase 1 with an additional £2.5m anticipated for further development in Phase 2. DASA expects to fund three to four bids during Phase 1.

The competition will formally launch in February 2020 when full details and requirements will be released. DASA and Dstl will be hosting a launch event in London on the 4th February 2020 where potential bidders can hear more about the competition, have 1-to-1 sessions with the project team, meet Army Engineers, and meet with other potential bidders with the view of partnering with them.

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autonomous bids competition DASA Dstl funding reconnaissance

Post written by: Ciara Houghton