The U.K. Ministry of Defense Centre for Defence Enterprise (CDE) invites research proposals for the “appropriate and targeted use of autonomous technologies” to provide the current level of logistics support for frontline troops, but with reduced manpower requirements.
The CDE is MoD’s gateway for U.K. science and technology within industry, academia and innovators to help ensure U.K. armed forces have access to the best equipment, science and technology, now and in the future. CDE provides a quick first response to ideas with a range of advice, assistance and research funding.
To conduct military operations, it is essential that U.K. armed forces, at the front line and elsewhere, are re-supplied with materiel such as food, water, fuel, and ammunition on a regular basis, CDE said describing its Jan. 19 Unmanned Distribution Capability seminar to be held in Cambridge. The MoD does not charge for attending CDE seminars.
In-theater logistic supply chains, achieved using Combat Logistic Patrols (CLPs), extend from the port of disembarkation, a sea port or airport, to frontline patrol bases, often through a hostile environment where there is a risk of attack and causalities.
The focus of the seminar is to launch this call for research into technologies that enable multiple unmanned distribution platforms to operate safely within a CLP, reducing the number of personnel involved and therefore reducing the likelihood of casualties.
Technologies could range from fully autonomous to remote control platforms, where control could occur from within a CLP, a deployed base or even the United Kingdom.
This call seeks not only equipment-based solutions but also changes to concepts, doctrine and training and will be of interest to a range of academia and industry across many different science and technology areas including but not limited to those working in control technologies, sensors and robotics.
At the seminar, information on the challenges and opportunities faced by U.K. armed forces when conducting CLPs around the world will be presented by military and MoD experts for discussion.
The challenges include:
- Remove or reduce the number of personnel involved in Materiel Distribution activities;
- Increase the lift capacity per head;
- Distribute different types of supply materiel such as liquid or palletized;
- Linkage technologies to communicate between vehicles;
- Remote control systems;
- Safety mechanisms for controlling platforms and their interaction with other vehicles;
- The RF environment for wireless controls, bandwidth and power requirements;
- Achieving mobility and maneuverability across difficult terrain such as mountains, desert, or urban, extremes of climate and in all environmental conditions; and
- Travel distances of up to 750km.
Seminar registration is only via
The call for proposals will close March 24. For CDE queries:: [email protected] or tel: 01235 438445. For technical questions on the call for papers, contact: [email protected].