Notice

Competition document: Telexistence

Updated 16 November 2020

1. Introduction

1.1 Competition aim

This Defence and Security Accelerator (DASA) competition, run on behalf of the Defence Science and Technology Laboratory (Dstl), aims to develop and demonstrate the components of a telexistence solution to the defence and security community. There is the potential for this competition (Phase 1) to be followed by a second competition (Phase 2) which will invite proposals to tailor their telexistence systems to meet a defence and security use case.

£650k is available for this Phase 1 to fund multiple proposals, with projects completing by 31 May 2021 and showcasing their innovation at a demonstration event to be held in the UK. We anticipate bids to be no more than £100k, but we have not set an upper threshold for the amount of proposals which may be funded as part of this Phase 1 competition. Please discuss with your Innovation Partner if your proposal is over £100k. This call closes at midday GMT on Thursday 19 November 2020.

1.2 Telexistence

A telexistence capability can be defined as a system, or a system of systems, which allows a human user to operate in an environment without physically being there. This could be achieved by using a real-time, remotely operated avatar which relies on the integration of:

• Telepresence: a visual-audio solution which enables a human operator to experience the sensation of self-presence in a remote environment
• Haptic feedback: an immersive solution which transmits sensory information from the remote environment to the human operative
• Robotics: a manoeuvrable solution which enables a human operator to interact with the remote environment

This competition seeks to assess proposals from each of the three technology groupings (challenge areas), but submissions that combine two or more of these challenge areas are also encouraged.

1.3 Competition objectives

This competition has 4 aspirations:

• to understand the technical possibilities and potential applications of a telexistence capability for the defence and security community
• to understand the technology gaps to inform decisions about where the UK Ministry of Defence (MoD) should invest in the future
• to increase the awareness of the defence and security requirement within industry and academia
• to increase awareness of the potential of this technology amongst defence and security stakeholders

To achieve these ambitions, Phase 1 will support the development and demonstration of the components of a telexistence system (or complete systems if this has already been achieved). Any potential Phase 2 competition will seek to support the integration of these components (if required) and the development and demonstration of a working telexistence system that has the potential to meet a defence and security use case in the future.

Subject matter experts and defence and security stakeholders will assess submissions for their potential to provide a demonstration of the systems capabilities and transition into a system that could meet a defence and security use case. Successful submissions will be invited to demonstrate their solution’s capability to achieve these in a technology demonstration event being held in May 2021. Submissions should therefore include a clear, costed project plan completing by the end of May 2021. We will also consider the wider proposal for its capacity to be integrated into a full telexistence solution if this has not already been achieved.

Any potential Phase 2 competition will ask suppliers to integrate technologies from the three challenge areas in order to form a full telexistence solution. Collaboration with suppliers from the other challenge areas would be welcomed. Phase 2 solutions would be asked to deliver a physical demonstration against a pre-determined test scenario of relevant defence and security tasks. A detailed breakdown of these requirements would be provided during the launch of a potential open Phase 2 competition call.

The maximum available funding for Phase 1 is £650k, with further funding anticipated for Phase 2. We plan to fund multiple submissions during Phase 1 and expect the level of investment to vary depending on the maturity of the technology.

2. Competition scope

2.1 Background

Developments in remote, robotic and sensory technologies in recent decades have led to an increased ability to operate differently in challenging environments. For defence and security communities, this includes significant steps to remove the need for people to be present in potentially hazardous locations. To facilitate this advancement, this competition has been launched to investigate the utility of the telexistence concept for UK defence and security.

The field of telexistence has emerged from the combination of three generic technology groupings: telepresence, haptics and robotics. Telexistence has been identified as a means by which skilled operatives can transfer their practice to a remote location, which can enhance the speed a user is deployed. It can also be used to keep people safe by reducing the risks associated with physically operating in a hazardous environment, for example: Explosive Ordnance Disposal (EOD), Chemical, Biological, Radiological, Nuclear (CBRN), space exploration, firefighting etc.

This competition is focused on identifying and developing innovation in the three technology areas, with a long-term aim of integrating the components to form a holistic telexistence solution if this has not already been achieved.

The project plan for developing a holistic telexistence solution is forecasted to be covered in two research and development phases. Phase 1, which this competition is concerned with, refers to the demonstration of technologies in three competition areas (1) telepresence (2) haptics and (3) robotics. Suppliers may submit proposals that answer more than 1 challenge as appropriate, and may also submit multiple proposals for multiple challenges.

It is recognised that more complete systems may be available, albeit not primarily designed with a defence and security application in mind. Submissions should showcase the status and potential of emerging technology and products individually against any of the three challenge areas, or a complete system approach may be offered. The progress and achievements within successful Phase 1 submissions must support the case for submission to a potential Phase 2 competition.

Successful Phase 1 submissions will detail in their proposals how projects will be progressed to provide a physical demonstration of the components of their telexistence systems at a demonstration event at the end of the project, and how it could be adapted to meet a defence and security use case in the future. Each submission should include a roadmap of how the technology could be / is integrated to form a telexistence solution, and eventually developed into an in-service capability for the defence and security stakeholder.

For potential Phase 2 work, we will facilitate collaboration across the three challenge areas (if required) to form a complete telexistence solution. This solution would then be assessed against a pre-determined test scenario of representative military tasks. Phase 1 will run until 31st May 2021 and any potential Phase 2 is envisaged to last until March 2022.

2.2 Example defence and security use case

Submissions for this phase should identify how the system could be developed in the future to meet a defence and security use case. The Dstl project team is exploring several use cases for telexistence technologies, an example of which includes Explosive Ordnance Disposal (EOD). This technology concept could not only increase the speed of military deployment but also mitigate the human risk associated with operating in hazardous environments.

Explosive Ordnance definition:

All munitions containing explosives, nuclear fission or fusion materials and biological and chemical agents. Examples include: bombs and warheads; guided and ballistic missiles; artillery, mortar, rocket and small-arms munitions; all mines, torpedoes and depth charges, demolition charges; pyrotechnics; clusters and dispensers; cartridge and propellant-actuated devices. NATO Glossary of Terms and Definitions Dictionary Definition

Explosive Ordnance Disposal (EOD) definition:

The detection, accessing, uncovering, identification, mitigation, rendering safe, recovery, exploitation and final disposal of explosive ordnance, regardless of condition. EOD extends to explosive remnants of war and stockpiles, or other explosive ordnance that has become hazardous by damage or deterioration. NATO Glossary of Terms and Definitions Dictionary Definition

EOD is not a discrete capability; it interfaces with Military Search, Electronic Counter Measures (ECM), ammunition management, Military Working Dogs (MWD), Military Engineering (Mil Eng) and Weapons Technical Intelligence (WTI), as well as with other areas of force protection and wider defence capability.

2.3 Scope

The UK MOD is seeking innovations in three challenge areas:

• Challenge 1: Telepresence
• Challenge 2: Haptics
• Challenge 3: Robotics

The Phase 1 challenge is to demonstrate a solution which can meet the requirements of the relevant challenge area. Submissions should articulate how the technology could be developed for the defence and security user. We are open to, and encourage novel approaches which provide the human user with a sensation of self-existence in the remote operating environment. Phase 1 submissions must be able to physically demonstrate their solution’s capability, following contract award.

3. Competition Challenges

Phase 1 intends to fund multiple solutions, with the aim of providing a physical demonstration of their capabilities against the relevant challenge area (see below). The primary requirements that apply across each of the Phase 1 challenge areas include:

• creating a system that provides a human user with the sensation of self-existence in the remote environment (for example, real time feedback)
• developing a system that can be remotely operated
• the connection between the human and system in the remote environment should be wirelessly operated

Your proposal must address at least one of the challenges below.

3.1 Challenge 1: Telepresence

Virtual communication through audio and video stimuli has become common practice in the commercial domain, however, users are currently inhibited in their ability to fully immerse and interact with the remote environment as if they were physically there. We are interested in innovative visual-audio solutions which enable a human user to experience the sensation of self-presence in a remote environment. Successful submissions will be able to demonstrate their system’s aptitude to physically complete a range of simple through to complex audio-visual tasks which are typical of those placed on defence and security personnel. Simple telepresence tasks related to the EOD use case may include live video and audio of a large stationary object in an open environment, which is not impeded by a large volume of objects, details or elements. Simple tasks may be conducted in daylight. Complex telepresence tasks related to the EOD use case may include live video and audio discerning fishing wire in a low light room impeded by multiple objects, details or elements. The solution must be able to transmit real-time visual-audio feedback as well as positional and rotational tracking. Solutions must demonstrate an element of remote operation.

3.2 Challenge 2: Haptics

Whilst conventional communication systems provide mostly audio and visual feedback, there is often little to no integration of haptic sensation. We are interested in real-time, immersive haptic feedback which can be exploited for the direct manipulation of remote operations. The solution must be able to transmit sensory (haptic) information to the human operative. Solutions must be able to demonstrate real-time motion capture, positional and rotational tracking. The solution must sense and provide real-time feedback on at least one of the following: kinaesthetic force, cutaneous force, temperature, vibration. Whilst not essential, we are also interested in systems that can operate to levels of fine dexterity. Simple haptic tasks related to the EOD use case may include force feedback from interacting with (i.e. pushing) an object such as a door. An example of a complex haptic task related to the EOD use case would include force feedback when interacting with variable/complex shape objects (i.e. a key put in a lock and opened). Successful submissions will be able to physically demonstrate the solution’s ability to perform manual dexterity tasks (such as those in the table below). Solutions must demonstrate an element of remote operation.

Hand Function	Description
Gross manual dexterity	This involves making arm and hand movements to manipulate large objects and does not rely upon fine fingertip manipulations. This requires grasping, turning, placing and releasing.
Fine finger dexterity	This requires fine movements involving grasping, releasing or manipulating small objects for which the fingertips are primarily used.
Grip	This refers to the ability to hold objects while manipulating them.
Positioning	This involves removing an object from one location, re-orientating it and positioning it accurately into place.

3.3 Challenge 3: Robotics

There is an aspiration to maintain the freedom of mobility of robotic systems that operate in dynamic, uncertain and hazardous environments. This challenge seeks real-time solutions that will allow a human operator to remotely manoeuvre a robotic platform in at least one of the following domains: land, above water, underwater, air and space. Whilst not essential, we are also interested in systems that can operate to levels of fine motor control. Successful submissions will demonstrate their systems aptitude to physically complete a range of simple-complex motor tasks which are typical of those placed on defence and security personnel. Simple to complex robotic tasks may include positional and rotational tracking of the whole body. Simple robotic tasks associated with the EOD use case may include the solution traversing over flat grass, road surface or over curbs. Complex robotics tasks associated to the EOD use case may include traversing railway sidings, stairs inside a building or banks to a culvert. Solutions must demonstrate an element of remote operation.

3.4 Clarification of what we want

Successful submissions will demonstrate how the solution will meet one of the defined challenge areas as part of Phase 1, with an outline plan of how the technology could be taken forward to form an integrated telexistence solution (Phase 2) to meet a defence and security use case. We welcome proposals from suppliers that express a willingness to collaborate with solutions from different challenges areas to form a complete telexistence solution as part of Phase 2, with the potential to develop into an in-service capability.

Proposals will be assessed against their ability to meet the challenges above (section 3), but we will also consider the proposed solution for its potential to be integrated to form a complete telexistence solution for the defence and security stakeholder. We welcome both traditional and novel system solutions that will benefit users working in UK defence and security. While it is initially expected that the solution will be fit for conducting both simple and complex tasks, cheaper sacrificial systems (and systems with sacrificial elements) will be considered. These solutions must demonstrate their potential to enhance how the UK defence and security operates.

Your proposal should include evidence of:

• proof of concept solution with a clear, costed outline plan to produce a demonstrable solution that enables a human operator to interact with a remote environment as if they were physically there.
• clear demonstration of how the proposed work applies to the defence and security context. Submissions may refer to the potential defence and security use case identified in section 1.

3.5 Clarification of what we don’t want

For this competition we are not interested in:

• receiving ideas for literature reviews that respond to the specific challenge areas
• consultancy proposals
• fully autonomous systems
• solutions which do not provide the human operator with complete control of the system
• artificial intelligence
• solutions which deviate from the telepresence, haptic and robotic challenge areas

4. Exploitation

This project seeks innovation over Phase 1 and potential future phases of this competition, to deliver working components of a telexistence solution that can be demonstrated to the defence and security community. The project aims to facilitate engagement with end users, and will explore the potential application of these technologies for UK defence and security.

It is important that over the lifetime of DASA competitions, ideas are matured and accelerated towards appropriate end users to enhance capability. How long this takes will be dependent on the nature and starting point of the innovation. Early identification and appropriate engagement with potential end users during the competition and subsequent phases are essential in order to develop and implement an exploitation plan.

All proposals to DASA should articulate the expected development in technology maturity of the potential solution over the lifetime of the contract and how this relates to improved operational capability against the current known (or presumed) baseline. Your deliverables should be designed to evidence these aspects with the aim of making it as easy as possible for potential collaborators/stakeholders to identify the innovative elements of your proposal in order to consider routes for exploitation. DASA Innovation Partners are available to support you with defence and security context.

A higher technology maturity will be expected in subsequent phases. You may wish to include some of the following information, where known, to help the assessors understand your exploitation plans to date:

• the intended defence or security users of your final product and whether you have previously engaged with them, their procurement arm or their research and development arm
• awareness of, and alignment to, any existing end user procurement programmes
• the anticipated benefits (for example, in cost, time, improved capability) that your solution will provide to the user
• whether the solution can be integrated with the components outlined in the other challenge areas
• expected additional work required beyond the end of the contract to develop an operationally deployable commercial product (for example, “scaling up” for manufacture, cyber security, integration with existing technologies, environmental operating conditions)
• additional future applications and wider markets for exploitation
• wider collaborations and networks you have already developed or any additional relationships you see as a requirement to support exploitation
• how your product could be tested in a representative environment in later phases
• any specific legal, ethical, commercial or regulatory considerations for exploitation

Longer term studies may not be able to articulate exploitation in great detail, but it should always be clear that there is some credible advantage to be gained from the technology development.

5. How to apply

Proposals for funding to meet these challenge criteria must be submitted by midday GMT Thursday 19 November 2020 via the DASA submission service for which you will be required to register.

Total funding for this challenge is expected to be up to £650k for Phase 1. The competition seeks to fund multiple submissions. If successful, contracts should complete by the end of May 2021.

Additional funding for further phases to increase Technology Readiness Level (TRL) further may be available. Any further phases will be open to applications from all suppliers and not just those that submitted Phase 1 successful bids.

Further guidance on submitting a proposal is available on a DASA website.

5.1 What your proposal must include

The proposal should focus on the Phase 1 requirements but must also include a brief (uncosted) outline of the next stages of work required for exploitation.

When submitting a proposal, you must complete all sections of the online form, including an appropriate level of technical information to allow assessment of the bid and a completed finances section. Completed proposals must comply with the financial rules set for this competition. There is no upper-limit per proposal for this competition, but please note that we are looking to fund several proposals under this Phase 1. It is also helpful to include a list of other current or recent government funding you may have received in this area if appropriate, making it clear how this proposal differs from this work.

A project plan with clear milestones and deliverables must be provided. Deliverables must be well defined and designed to provide evidence of progress against the project plan and the end-point for this Phase; they must include a final report. You should also plan for attendance at a virtual kick-off meeting at the start of Phase 1, and cost to attend an in person demonstration show and tell event (to be held at a location in the UK, likely Dstl Porton Down), as well as regular reviews with the appointed Technical Partner and Project Manager; all meetings will be in the UK. Your proposal must demonstrate how you will complete all activities/services and provide all deliverables by the 31st May 2021. Proposals with any deliverables (including final report) outside the competition timeline will be rejected as non-compliant.

A resourcing plan must also be provided that identifies, where possible, the nationalities of those proposed research workers that you intend working on this Phase. In the event of proposals being recommended for funding, DASA reserves the right to undertake due diligence checks including the clearance of proposed research workers. Please note that this process will take as long as necessary and could take up to 6 weeks in some cases for non-UK nationals.

You must identify any ethical / legal / regulatory factors within your proposal and how the associated risks will be managed, including break points in the project if approvals are not received. Due to the short timescales of this competition, DASA will not be accepting any proposals which require MODREC approvals.

Requirements for access to Government Furnished Assets (GFA), for example, information, equipment, materials and facilities, should be included in your proposal. DASA cannot guarantee that GFA will be available. Failure to provide any of the above listed will automatically render your proposal non-compliant.

5.2 Public facing information

When submitting your proposal, you will be required to include a proposal title and a short abstract. The title and abstract you provide will be used by DASA, and other government departments, to describe the project and its intended outcomes and benefits. It will be used for inclusion at DASA events in relation to this competition and included in documentation such as brochures. The proposal title will also be published in the DASA transparency data on GOV.UK, along with your company name, the amount of funding, and the start and end dates of your contract.

5.3 How your proposal will be assessed

At Stage 1, all proposals will be checked for compliance with this competition document and may be rejected before full assessment if they do not comply. Only those proposals who demonstrate their compliance against the competition scope and DASA criteria will be taken forward to full assessment. Failure to achieve full compliance against Stage 1 will render your proposal non-compliant and will not be considered any further:

Mandatory Criteria

The proposal outlines how it meets the scope of the competition	Within scope (Pass) / Out of scope (Fail)
The proposal fully explains in all three sections of the DASA submission service how it meets the DASA criteria	Pass / Fail
The proposal clearly details a financial plan, a project plan and a resourcing plan to complete the work proposed in Phase 1	Pass / Fail
The proposal does not require MODREC approvals	Pass / Fail
The proposal identifies any GFA required for Phase 1	Pass / Fail
The proposal does not exceed funding limit of £650K	Pass / Fail
The proposal demonstrates how all research and development activities/services (including delivery of the final report) will be completed by 31st May 2021 (or earlier)	Pass / Fail
The bidder has obtained the authority to provide unqualified acceptance of the terms and conditions of the Contract	Pass / Fail

Proposals that pass Stage 1 will then be assessed against the standard DASA assessment criteria (Desirability, Feasibility and Viability) by subject matter experts from the MOD (including Dstl), other government departments and front-line military commands. You will not have the opportunity to comment on assessors comments.

DASA reserves the right to disclose on a confidential basis any information it receives from you during the procurement process to any third party engaged by DASA for the specific purpose of evaluating or assisting DASA in the evaluation of your proposal. For the specific purposes of considering additional funding for a competition and onward exploitation opportunities, DASA also reserves the right to share information in your proposal in-confidence with any UK Government Department. In providing such information you consent to such disclosure. Appropriate confidentiality agreements will be put in place.

Further guidance on how your proposal is assessed is available on the DASA website.

After assessment, proposals will be discussed internally at a Decision Conference where, based on the assessments, budget and wider strategic considerations, a decision will be made on the proposals that are recommended for funding.

Proposals that are unsuccessful will receive brief feedback after the Decision Conference.

5.4 Things that you should know about DASA contracts

Please read the DASA terms and conditions which contain important information for suppliers. For this competition we will be using the Innovation Standard Contract (ISC) with DEFCON 705 as the IP condition, with links to the contract here: Terms and Schedules. We will require unqualified acceptance of the terms and conditions. For the avoidance of any doubt, for this Themed Competition we are NOT using the DASA Short Form Contract (SFC).

Funded projects will be allocated a Project Manager (to run the project) and a Technical Partner (as a technical point of contact). In addition, the DASA team will work with you to support delivery and exploitation including where appropriate introductions to end-users and business support to help SMEs develop their business. DASA also collects information from projects after the project has concluded and you should expect to be contacted once your project has completed for measurement purposes.

We will use deliverables from DASA contracts in accordance with our rights detailed in the contract terms and conditions, and especially DEFCON 705.

For this Phase £650k is currently available to fund proposals. There may be occasions where additional funding from other funding lines may subsequently become available to allow us to revisit those proposals deemed suitable for funding but where limitations on funding at the time prevented DASA from awarding a subsequent contract. In such situations, DASA reserves the right to keep such proposals in reserve. In the event that additional funding subsequently becomes available, DASA may ask whether you would still be prepared to undertake the work outlined in your proposal under the same terms.

6. Phase 1 Dates

WebEx Supplier Briefing	Wednesday 14 October 2020
Pre-bookable 1-2-1 telecon sessions	Wednesday 21 and Thursday 22 October 2020
Competition closes	Midday GMT Thursday 19 November 2020
Feedback release	Friday 29 January 2021
Contracting	Aim to start Monday 1 February 2021 and end Monday 31 May 2021

7. Supporting events

Supplier Briefing

Wednesday 14 October 2020 - a virtual launch event providing further detail on the problem space and a chance to ask questions in an open forum. If you would like to participate, please register on the Eventbrite page

1-2-1 Sessions

Wednesday 21 October 2020 - a series of 15 minute, one-to-one teleconference sessions, giving you the opportunity to ask specific questions. If you would like to participate, please register on the Eventbrite page

Thursday 22 October 2020 - a series of 15 minute, one-to-one teleconference sessions, giving you the opportunity to ask specific questions. If you would like to participate, please register on the Eventbrite page

8. Help

DASA has a network of regionally based Innovation Partners who are available provide guidance to suppliers on submitting to a competition. If you would like guidance on process, application, technical, commercial and intellectual property aspects, please contact us via the DASA website. This will be sent to an Innovation Partner who will contact you within ten working days to discuss.

While all reasonable efforts will be made to answer queries, DASA reserves the right to impose management controls if volumes of queries restrict fair access of information to all potential suppliers. If you are experiencing technical difficulties with the submission service, please contact accelerator@dstl.gov.uk.