Dstl presents telexistence technologies to reduce personnel risk
The Haptic Bimanual Telexistence System allows an operator to open an unattended bag delicately and remotely. (Photo: Dstl)
A DASA event showed the potential and advantages of telexistence technologies in hazardous environments.
The Defence Science and Technology Laboratory (Dstl) in the UK has demonstrated innovative telexistence concepts that could give military personnel, emergency services, or humanitarian workers the capability to undertake dangerous tasks in hazardous environments without physically being present.
During a recent event organised by the UK MoD Defence and Security Accelerator (DASA), an array of different telexistence technologies were displayed by industry suppliers to potential military and government users.
Dstl explained in a 1 November announcement that telexistence combines three separate technologies to allow the ability to sense, touch, feel, and interact with objects.
This is achieved using a remotely operated system and relies on the integration of telepresence to see and hear, robotics or wearable assistive technologies for interaction, and haptic feedback or sensors to touch and feel.
Dstl foresees a variety of applications for telexistence technologies in hazardous missions such as explosive ordnance disposal, to reduce the risk to personnel.
The MoD agency added that telexistence has also the potential to reduce logistical burden and allow specialists to support several operations as and when needed, rather than being deployed to a specific operation in case their skills are required.
More from Defence Notes
-
![Companies’ results boom as countries dig deep to buy missiles and air defence systems]()
Companies’ results boom as countries dig deep to buy missiles and air defence systems
Air defence systems are continuing to appear top of countries’ shopping lists but broadly across different capabilities it is a sellers’ market, as demonstrated by backlogs and double-digit percentage point growth.
-
![Forging strong partnerships for warfighting communications in space (Studio)]()
Forging strong partnerships for warfighting communications in space (Studio)
Mike Moran, Director of US Government Business at Amazon Project Kuiper Government Solutions, highlighted the evolution of space as a critical warfighting domain at the Defence in Space Conference (DISC) 2025, held this week in London.
-
![Details revealed on Germany’s big spending plans]()
Details revealed on Germany’s big spending plans
In May this year, German Chancellor Friedrich Merz said the government plans to position Germany as “Europe's strongest conventional army”. A new blueprint outlines how this is going to occur through massive investment.
-
![European Council to deliver at “pace and scale” on European defence readiness 2030 roadmap]()
European Council to deliver at “pace and scale” on European defence readiness 2030 roadmap
Two of the concrete projects outlined in the readiness report, the European Air Shield and Space Shield, will aim to be launched by Q2 2026.
