DASA launches Themed Competition: Human Augmentation
Image courtesy DASA
Human Augmentation (HA) refers to the use of science or technology to temporarily or permanently modify human performance. This encompasses a range of technologies, including exoskeletons, wearables, genetics, brain interfaces, pharmaceuticals and bioinformatics.
This Themed Competition aims to develop novel, Generation-After-Next (GAN) prototype HA technologies which can be harnessed safely and ethically that mitigate human performance as the limiting factor in a UK Defence environment.
Technologies that influence the following human capabilities and aptitudes include:
- sensory enhancement to support mission outcomes
- collaborative working (including human-human and human-machine)
- attention during tasks with a cognitive element
- enhanced decision making (reduced time and improved outcomes)
- physical endurance
- strength
- overcoming limitations to physical and cognitive fatigue
Key Dates and Funding
Up to £2 million is available for this competition and DASA expects to fund five to 10 proposals.
Human augmentation technologies in defence
As the battlefield becomes more complex and the demands on our personnel increase, in order to win tactical advantage, they will have to out-think and out-pace their adversaries. If HA technologies can be harnessed safely and ethically to develop enhanced levels of performance, it is possible they could afford improvements in capability across the whole force.
This Themed Competition has three use cases:
Use Case 1
: Biofeedback Systems
Systems that measure user state, interpret the resulting data and deliver an effect based on the data.
Use Case 2: The Warfighter Ensemble
Equipment that is worn closely on the body and is designed to optimise and enhance biological functions.
Use Case 3: Sensory Enhancements
Enhancing the human senses beyond typical biological capability.
Webinar
DASA is hosting a dial-in session on 3rd May 2023 that will provide further detail on the problem space and a chance to ask questions in an open forum. If you would like to participate, please register on the Eventbrite page
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Submit a proposal
If you have an innovation that may help accelerate the development of human augmentation technologies for defence and military effect delivery, read the full competition document to learn more and submit a proposal: www.gov.uk/government/publications/competition-human-augmentation
