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The Maritime Enterprise Innovation and Research Conference 2018

DASA is supporting the Maritime, Enterprise, Innovation and Research Conference (MEIR) at the University of Strathclyde on 24 January 2018.

• From: Defence and Security Accelerator
• Published: 4 January 2018
• Last updated: 14 March 2018 — See all updates

The Maritime, Enterprise, Innovation and Research (MEIR) unit are looking for key technologies that will significantly improve the ability for unmanned/ autonomous systems to operate in the underwater environment, by expanding their use and employ-ability for military and commercial use. Proposals will be welcomed through the DASA Open Call for Innovation.

The MEIR challenges were briefed in detail at the MEIR Conference at the University of Strathclyde in Glasgow on 24 January 2018. MEIR members, included the Royal Navy and MOD subject matter experts, who were on hand at the event to discuss the technical detail behind the challenges. Representatives from the DASA were also present to discuss how the Open Call will support this.

There are 2 specific challenges for which the Royal Navy seeks innovative technologies to resolve, by:

• Providing, or contributing towards, low power, high accuracy navigation for unmanned underwater vehicles (UUV).

This challenge is based on the fact that current UUV navigation systems tend to rely on relatively high power inertial systems. A low power solution would enable greater endurance or increased capability, and utility could be increased through expanding the ability to navigate without input from other traditional autonomous navigation sensors (for example, GPS).

• Allowing longer duration operations from autonomous systems.

This challenge is based on expanding system range and endurance through advanced energy management and generation, energy scavenging and storage, and the use of low power systems.

MEIR aims to bring together Users, SMEs, Tier1 Industry partners, DASA and Defence Innovation funding to develop a clear exploitation path to solve/assist solving complex maritime problems in the underwater environment through creativity and collaboration.

Published 4 January 2018
Last updated 14 March 2018 + show all updates

1. 14 March 2018

   Additional details on the Royal Navy challenges announced at the Maritime Enterprise Innovation Scotland Conference (MEISC) in January 2018 have been added.

2. 11 January 2018

   The Registration Page for this event has now been added.

3. 4 January 2018

   First published.