Notice

Telexistence Q&A responses

Updated 16 November 2020

The below provides answers to clarification questions raised by the particpants at the Telexistence launch event held on 14 October 2020.

1. Can we apply for multiple challenge areas in one application entry?

Yes. We will accept submissions with multiple components, and which address multiple challenge areas, however, each component will be assessed in isolation. Please distinguish in your abstract which challenge areas your proposal will address.

2. Is there an assumption that the latency issues with the telexistence are mitigated outside the scope of this competition?

We are looking for a real time immersive experience, and we are looking for a solution that can provide this to end users. We recognise there may be some technologies with latency issues. Where this is the case, it would be useful if suppliers could indicate what you would do in the future to mitigate against this latency.

3. Can multiple universities collaborate for the proposal?

Yes, we will accept proposals from multiple collaborators, and it doesn’t matter how many contribute. There must be a lead supplier who submits the proposal and the other suppliers will need to be included as contractors.

4.Would it be reasonable to use a simulation to simulate devices used in the demonstration of telepresence or haptic feedback.

This competition aims to achieve a physical demonstration of the technology component, as we feel that this is the best way to engage with our end users. A simulation to simulate devices used in the demonstration of telepresence or haptic feedback would therefore not achieve the primary aims of this competition.

5. What level of Innovation do the solutions need to have? Do they need to be new ideas? Or can they focus on addressing limitations of existing solutions? e.g.EOD

This competition welcomes both traditional and innovative solutions that would help the defence and secuirty community to achieve a greater sense of self-immersion within a remote environment. Submissions can address limitations of existing solutions, ensuring that the submission aligns to the aforementioned competition aim. If there is an existing solution out there or already in the defence and security environment that is able to answer the question in the competition document, then that is acceptable.

6. In the first stage, is the focus on higher TRL research with a proof-of-concept at the conclusion or the design and simulation pieces will be ok?

This competition has not defined a firm TRL which successful submissions should achieve. The competition seeks a proof of concept component solution with a clear, costed outline plan to produce a demonstrable component solution (for the demonstration event in May 2021) that enables a human operator to interact with the remote environment as if they were physically there.

7. What happens after the competition? Does DASA/Dstl help with getting the end results to the higher TRLs?

DASA have a Partnership and Impact team who will work with successful submissions post competition funding. Successful submissions will also be provided with a Technical Partner from within Dstl who will work with and guide those suppliers throughout the duration of the contract.

8. Can one organisation submit different proposals for different challenges?

Yes you can.

9. Can commercially available technologies be integrated as part of a solution, or should all components be developed through the project (e.g. robotics)?

Yes they can, but you should outline in your proposal where the innovation lies when integrating any commercially available technologies.

10. How remote is the telepresence user; in a facility miles away or also out in the field?

We are interested to hear your thoughts on how your application can be applied in a defence and security use case. For the purpose of the demonstration, we acknowledge that suppliers will be in close proximity to the solution. In the submission, suppliers are encouraged to identify the capabilities (i.e. maximum distance of remote-operation) of the proposed solution, whilst also noting how this remote technology could be matured and accelerated towards appropriate end-users to enhance their capability.

11. If hardware is created for the demonstration who retains ownership of this?

All hardware that has been identified from your proposal, and subsequently fully funded, shall result in ownership being transferred to the MOD.
The exception to this is where you have referenced and specified that the hardware is subject to private funding. In this instance ownership of the hardware will remain with the supplier.

12. Are templates available for entry submissions?

There are no Word document templates. When you log in to Salesforce it clearly sets out where to add what information and upload documents. It also explains what to cover in the desirable/ feasible/viable assessment criteria.

13. Will communication security between user and robot be an important assessment point?

This competition is not concerned with, and will not be assessing, the communication security between the user and robot. However, as this technology is matured and accelerated (in a potential phase 2 competition) towards appropriate end-users to enhance capability, we recognize that their will be a requirement to assess and evaluate the communication secuirty of the proposed technology.

14. In challenge 3, Robotic teleoperation, will the focus be just on the motion control and not on the ability of the robot to do different tasks?

The focus for challenge area 3, is to provide the user with a real-time sensation of self immersion and whilst not essential, we are interested in systems that can operate to a high level of motor control. Suppliers are encouraged to articulate the robotic solution’s capabilities (i.e. motion control, ability to conduct specific tasks) and note how these can serve to maintain the freedom of mobility of robotic systems that operate in dynamic, uncertain and potentially hazardous environments.

15. What level of fidelity do the physical demonstrators developed in Phase 1 need to have?

This competition has not defined a firm TRL which successful submissions should achieve. The competition seeks solutions that enables remote operation, provides a sense of self-imersion in the remote operating environment and solutions that can conduct a range of simple and/or complex tasks. It is important for suppliers to articulate how the solution could meet a defence and secuirty use case.

16. Can we use the funding for both personnel and/or equipment, or is there a particular rule for how we use the funding?

Your proposal should clearly reference and detail how costs shall be incurred to enable Value for Money (VfM) consideration. This should be captured in the funding section of the Salesforce page. No constraints are specified for how the funding should be split between personnel or equipment costs, but all costs incurred must be for the performance of this requirement.

17. Is the total funding going to be equally distributed to proposals into the 3 different challenges? Or you may end up funding 1 challenge for example?

The funding will be split depending on the proposals that are submitted, rather than being equally divided between the challenges, it will depend on the quality of the proposals. This competition does not look to fund 1 submission at £650,000. It would desirable to fund proposals within the range of £10,000 and £100,000. However, we acknowledge that funding will be allocated in line with the recommendations following the DASA assessment period.

18. For challenge 3 are you just looking for mobile robots, rather than fixed stations that can perform certain tasks?

Challenge area 3 seeks robotic solutions that could provide a human operator with a sense of self-immersion within the remote operating environment. The competition would welcome both mobile robots and fixed robotic stations. However, it is important for suppliers to articulate how the proposed solution could benefit a defence and security use case and how this could enhance end-user capability.

19. For telepresence, does the remote environment need to be a physical one or can this technology also be applicable to training simulation (eg equipment training)?

This competition seeks solutions that can be operated in a physical remote environment.

20. Should the proposed tech provide full telexistence in entirety or can it be designed as an integrated component for existing systems to provide remote control?

This competition does not anticipate developing and demonstrating a complete telexistence solution as a final deliverable in May 2021. However, this would be welcomed.

21. Does the demonstration need to be in a controlled or real environment?

Successful submissions will be required to demonstrate their solution’s capabilities against the relevant challenge area in a physical/real environment.

22. I think a little bit clarification of end user application especially in challenge 3 will help in development phase.

This competition has not pre-defined the defence and security use case or end-user application for any of the 3 challenge areas. We understand that some suppliers may not have had the opportunity to work with the defence and security industry previously, and we have therefore offered an example of where these technology components could be applied to a potential defence and security use case: Explosive Ordnance Disposal (EOD). In challenge area 3, our EOD application example recognizes that robotic solutions may be required to transverse a range of simple surfaces (i.e. flat grass, flat tarmac and over curbs). However, we also note that there may be a defence and security requirement to transverse complex surfaces such as: railway slidings, stairs inside a building or banks to a culvert. It is important to note that the simple and complex EOD task descriptions intend to provide an example of how this technology component could be applied to a potential defence and secuirty use case. We encourage submissions to articulate the potential defence benefit and application, whilst also noting how the proposed solution could enhance any defence and secuirty end-user capability.