{"id":80862,"date":"2017-04-19T09:39:00","date_gmt":"2017-04-19T09:39:00","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/mostafa.openonline.co.uk\/?guid=457a47d4709bac9c731d04f037f0c756"},"modified":"2017-04-19T12:04:59","modified_gmt":"2017-04-19T12:04:59","slug":"news-story-autonomous-supply-to-military-front-line-apply-for-contracts","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/mostafa.openonline.co.uk\/?p=80862","title":{"rendered":"News story: Autonomous supply to military front line: apply for contracts"},"content":{"rendered":"

Updated:<\/em> Updated news story photograph.<\/p>\n

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The Ministry of Defence<\/a> is to invest in projects that look at ways of using autonomous systems in the \u2018last mile\u2019 of the supply chain to front-line military operations.<\/p>\n

Up to \u00a31.5 million is available in the first phase of the competition. There is up to an additional \u00a31.5 million in phase 2 that includes proposed system designs. This will only be available to projects funded through phase 1.<\/p>\n

A third phase could include a longer period of trials and evaluation of promising proposals.<\/p>\n

Last mile supply<\/h2>\n

Last-mile resupply involves delivery of combat materials from a physical base or logistics vehicle and is often challenging because of the hostile and contested environment. Although described as last-mile, real-life distances could be up to 30km in some instances.<\/p>\n

Current ways of supplying the front line involve transport aircraft, helicopters, large trucks, trailers with quad bikes and soldiers on foot.<\/p>\n

The challenge areas<\/h2>\n

This funding competition is particularly looking for solutions in 3 challenge areas:<\/p>\n