03 Aug 12. Ministry of Defence scientists are inviting UK industry and academia to showcase their innovative ideas for detecting improvised explosive devices (IEDs).
Experts at the MOD’s Defence Science and Technology Laboratory (Dstl) are
accepting applications to work with them, potentially to take part in a series of IED-detection demonstration days, which will take place between 3 September 2012 and 31 January 2013.
Dstl is interested in concepts at a very early stage of development, through to those at the prototype stage. Industry and academia with the most promising and sufficiently developed submissions will be invited to a Dstl site where the innovations will be tested against a representative threat. In particular, the sensing challenges will focus on concealed IEDs, either worn by a person or hidden in a vehicle, buried by or in the road, or hidden in a wall, box, bag or other container.
Organisations with a selected submission will work with Dstl and military subject matter experts to design a scenario suited to the technological maturity of their proposed sensing solution.
Dstl will provide feedback to each applicant, regardless of success. There is the possibility of funding for the most promising concepts.
Don Hardy, Senior Fellow of the Dstl Security Sciences Department, said, “This is another example of Dstl working together with industry and academia to explore novel concepts which may lead to equipment upgrades for UK Armed Forces. “We’re looking for innovative ideas ranging from conceptual studies to pieces of equipment, regardless of technological maturity, which could be used to improve the detection of concealed IEDs.
“Following the demonstration days, technical and military subject matter
experts will review the performance of each concept and identify projects which have performed to a level worthy of further research.”
The final deadline for submissions is 31 October 2012, but interested parties are encouraged to apply as soon as possible to ensure that consultation over logistics can begin. (Source: ASD Network/Ministry of Defence)