| Work Detail |
Applications will close at the end of this week for an opportunity in January for start-ups and innovators to explore the use of artificial intelligence (AI) and automation with the Royal Navy.
At the Digital Catapult ‘Pit Stop’, participants will be able to collaborate with and inform Defence Science and Technology Laboratory (Dstl) work to demonstrate how the application of advanced digital technologies can transform the Defence sector.
The project sets out to revolutionise future ship design with the application of AI and automation in the digital space, optimising data usage to make better informed decisions.
The Dstl project, ‘Intelligent Ship’, is working towards revolutionising ship design and development for the Navy. The project aims to address how best to make use of automation and AI applications to ensure optimal use of all the available data. This includes the examination of how operations could be better undertaken through the use of automated techniques for data processing, planning and decision making.
Current Navy ships have a variety of diverse and isolated data streams, and this mix of information and the need to integrate and make timely decisions based upon it creates a challenging and environment for Navy command teams. Data has to be prioritised and understood whilst providing situational awareness, allowing the command team to make life-saving decisions.
According to the opportunity, the interaction between “humans” and machines will be a crucial to success, with an aim to build on the strengths that each brings to the mission.
To ensure decision confidence, the opportunity says, applied AI solutions should be transparent and clear so that “humans” understand and trust the outputs, and can conduct meaningful post mission analysis.
This task is limited to the systems within a single naval platform. However, Intelligent Ship will be required to work within a defence context to form part of a task group, squad or “swarm” of platforms co-operating to achieve successful mission outcomes. Therefore, the Intelligent Ship is being designed to operate independently or as a team.
Organisations that should apply include early-stage companies, start-up experts, and research groups that are in the process of developing new cutting-edge technologies.
Areas of advanced digital technology applications and solutions include (but are not limited to) ; simulation and modelling; uncertainty in machine learning predictions; and explainable AI: understanding how the system reaches its conclusion
The catapult may consider energy management, cyber security and future networks, such as 5G or LPWAN but is not interested in autonomous lethal weapons systems
The Intelligent Ship project is also interested in partnering with one to three companies or research groups to generate demonstrators for a showcase in 2021. Successful proposals submitted after the event may lead to Dstl funding contracts with collaborators with up to £320k to further explore and develop their ideas.
The Pit Stop is expected to accelerate the growth of new ideas to support the development and application of AI and automation in future Navy vessels. The January event is intended to provide more background on the project, an opportunity to meet other start-ups, and facilitate the exploration and application of advanced digital technologies
The closing date to apply for the Pit Stop is Friday December 14, with the Pit Stop taking place on January 17 and 18 at Digital Catapult in London. |
