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DASA

DASA on the hunt for human augmentations that can benefit defence and security

960 640 Stuart O'Brien

The Defence and Security Accelerator (DASA) has launched a new Innovation Focus Area (IFA) called Human Augmentation, seeking proposals which present GAN solutions to operational challenges for UK Defence and Security, where the human performance is the limiting factor for delivering operational effect.

DASA expects to fund proposals to a value around £70K, which provide a proof of concept within a 6 month contract

HA is the use of Science and Technology (S&T) to temporarily or permanently modify human performance. DASA says that as the battlefield becomes more complex and more advanced technologies become available, the operational demands and technical challenges on our defence and security personnel will increase.

It is vital to explore if human augmentation technologies can be harnessed safely, legally and ethically to develop enhanced levels of operator (and system) performance in military and security capability.

DASA is interested in GAN technologies that deliver a competitive advantage to UK Defence and Security by:

  • optimising physical and/or psychological performance
  • enhancing physical and/or psychological performance
  • enabling an individual to work for longer at a desired level (baseline) of performance
  • supporting performance restoration

Examples of candidate HA technologies include, but are not limited to:

  • wearable assistive devices (e.g. exoskeletons and technologies to enhance senses)
  • sensory enhancement technologies
  • nutritional supplements
  • pharmacological interventions
  • manipulation of the microbiomes
  • neurotechnologies
  • novel materials
  • implantable devices
  • synthetic biology
  • cross reality
  • robotics
  • artificial intelligence

Companies with a ‘solution or novel approach’ that may help contribute to the portfolio of human augmentation capabilities and promote UK Government’s understanding of their appropriate (potential) use can submit their interest here.

Do you have an innovative new way to stop a tank?

960 640 Stuart O'Brien

Yes, you read that correctly – The Defence and Security Accelerator (DASA) is hosting a launch event for ‘Stopping it in its Tracks’ – Phase 2.

This will take place in London, on the 16 May 2019. If you think you have an idea that could be adapted from its current use, to stop a tracked vehicle such as a tank, then DASA would like to meet you.

The body is seeking proposals for novel approaches to stop or impede tanks and other heavy armoured vehicles while preventing or minimising collateral damage. Approaches do not need to focus on physical barriers, but can target the mobility, vision or even the engine.

DASA has already facilitated a range of innovators to develop such technologies on behalf of the Army in a proof-of concept Phase 1. Four suppliers were funded with technologies ranging from targeting the engine and sensors to deploying wired mesh technology to inhibit the tracks.

Dr Adam Staines at DASA said: “We are looking to harness the latest thinking and any advances in engineering, design, materials science, computing and non-kinetic weapons. Whilst the primary focus is defence, we are also interested in technologies that have wider security applications, such as preventing vehicle-related terrorist attacks.”

Total funding of up to £3 million is available for Phase 2 of this competition from which DASA anticipate funding around 5-6 projects. Suppliers do not have to have been in Phase 1 of the competition to take part. Additional funding may be available for future phases of this competition.

To attend the event please register via Eventbrite.

Electromagnetic imaging for aviation security on the way?

960 640 Stuart O'Brien

The UK’s government’s Defence and Security Accelerator (DASA) scheme says it wants to find and fund next-generation automated imagery analysis to develop capabilities to efficiently detect security threats.

In collaboration with the Department for Transport, the University College London (UCL) has been funded £332,520 to progress their project to develop ‘Electromagnetic imaging for aviation security’.

Magnetic induction tomography (MIT) is a non-contact and non-destructive electromagnetic imaging technique allowing the sensor to operate on an automated basis and with great penetration through metallic barriers, meaning it has potential applications in transport security.

Current sensors show poor sensitivity at low frequency, hence lacking of penetrating power through barriers. The UCL team recently demonstrated that Magnetic Induction Tomography can be performed with atomic magnetometers, which have record sensitivity at low frequency and offer promise of great penetration through barriers.

The team also demonstrated machine-learning-aided classification of the relevant images. These features pave the way to applications in the security sector, as well as in industry, medicine and geophysics.

Prof. Ferruccio Renzoni, Project Lead, University College London said that DASA funding allowed his team to progress the technology to higher TRL.

Parcel operators, airport security operators could benefit significantly from improved and more reliable sensor techniques.

As a next next step, UCL would like to liaise with companies interested in collaborating to develop the project further.

Contact: Prof. Ferruccio Renzoni – f.renzoni@ucl.ac.uk