UK aims to bring telexistence closer to reality
The UK MoD has unveiled an £800,000 ($1.1 million) funding injection via the Defence and Security Accelerator (DASA) for research into future military applications for telexistence technologies.
Nine organisations from industry and academia — such as L3Harris Technologies, TNO and Sheffield Hallam University — will work on 11 projects to accelerate development of capabilities that will physically remove military personnel and emergency workers from dangerous operating environments.
The human will remain in the loop with the ability to perform complex tasks and operate equipment from a safe distance.
Projects in Phase 1 are due to be completed by 31 May 2021 and will be demonstrated afterwards at an event in the UK.
Rob Baldock, programme manager for emerging technology at the UK Defence Science and Technology Laboratory (Dstl), said: ‘This is the culmination of several years of developing the concept of telexistence inside Dstl from the idea of combining different areas of emerging science into the concept of projecting human presence into a remote environment and immersive feedback for the operator.’
As part of our promise to deliver comprehensive coverage to our Defence Insight and Premium News subscribers, our curated defence news content provides the latest industry updates, contract awards and programme milestones.
More from Defence Notes
-
US lawmakers warn that “more military spending is absolutely necessary” to ensure Pentagon’s readiness
The US Congress has raised concerns about how inflation rates and cuts in main acquisition programmes could affect the US military.
-
Can the US overcome Russian and Chinese nuclear capabilities?
Washington’s ageing inventory and the pace Moscow and Beijing have been modernising their capabilities put in check the US Nuclear deterrence.
-
US FY2024 funding package passes as China closes military capability gap
The Pentagon has been operating under temporary funding since October 2023, which has impacted its main acquisition and development programmes, increasing the capability gap between the US and China.
-
NATO outlines future challenges as Ukrainian funding from US stalls
In 2023, defence spending increased by an unprecedented 11% across European NATO countries and Canada. Since 2014, the group has spent an additional US$600 billion on defence.
-
US Pentagon to reduce investments in main acquisition programmes over FY2025
The DoD requested nearly US$850 billion to fund operations over the next fiscal year. Despite the amount being 1% higher than the FY2024 budget request, it has not covered the 3% inflation rate, which could impact the DoD’s main programmes in the medium and long term.