United Kingdom Defense Seeks Human Augmentation Proposals

The UK MOD is seeking proposals for Human Augmentation (HA).  As the battlefield becomes more complex, British forces will have to outthink their adversaries quickly to win tactical advantage.  The MOD is exploring whether HA technologies can be harnessed safely and ethically to develop enhanced levels of performance for its forces beyond those which can be achieved by innate talent (aptitude and learning) and to investigate whether HA could provide improvements in defense capability across the whole military. 

Industry and academia are invited by the MOD to submit proposals that will develop HA technologies to reduce human performance as the limiting factor in defense scenarios.  Proposals should focus on technologies that influence the following, amongst other, human capabilities and aptitudes:

•    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

Submitted proposals should have the capability to be tested in a scenario-based environment that is simulated in a laboratory setting. For example, a treadmill-based march, or a scenario for team decision-making presented in virtual reality.

Proposals should demonstrate the following elements:

•    How the proposed technology differs from and provides an advantage over alternative (or extant) solutions
•    The current TRL of the technology
•    The desired TRL end state
•    Technology gaps that need to be filled by R&D and the plan to address these gaps

Alternatively, proposals should include a work package detailing how the above would be developed.

The MOD seeks novel proposals that will benefit end-users working in UK defense. Your proposal should include evidence of:

•    How your solution technologies mitigate human performance as the limiting factor
•    How your theoretical development, method of advancement or proof of concept research can demonstrate potential for translation to practical demonstration
•    How the proposal has a clear and unambiguous defense application
•    How your solution can be applied in a safe and ethical manner

If you would like to submit an ethical proposal on Human Augmentation that will increase human performance and help the MOD outthink its adversaries, or for information on other opportunities in the UK defense and security market, please contact PJ Menner at the U.S. Embassy London via PJ.Menner@trade.gov.