Logistic Drone Swarm Experimentation

Concepts

• miscellaneous software
• bbsr
• digital logistic demand development
• edge experimentation
• logistic drone swarm experimentation
• tactical swarm experimentation
• delivery of logistics software plugin
• software package
• software architecture
• conops definition workshops

Location

LONDON

Description

1. This contract sees leading edge experimentation with BBSR to integrate their edge processing swarming software architecture onto Royal Marine experimental UAVs being employed as modular air vehicles for Find, Lift, Protect and Strike missions

Total Quantity or Scope

1. This contract sees leading edge experimentation with BBSR to integrate their edge processing swarming software architecture onto Royal Marine experimental UAVs being employed as modular air vehicles for Find, Lift, Protect and Strike missions, and automating a multirole ground surveillance camera being trialled. Both pieces of hardware have competed procurements underway for the FCF, reinforcing the importance of this proposal. a. Platform integration of BBSR Centurion software onto 8 x Malloy TRV-150 & Podview ground camera: CONOPS definition workshops & report System architecture (First Draft) Interface definitions - Blue Bear (Smart Connect) / Malloy (T150) interface definition 8 SmartConnect boxes Bluebear primed sub-contract to Malloy Aeronautics for their integration and support work and flight testing on 8x TRV150s MPU5 (data link) integration and compatibility test with RN MPU5s and quick tech note report. Smart connect platform integration onto PodView camera & deliver 1 x camera to user & demonstrate edge processing on Centurion & demonstrate object based recognition algorithm to acquire vehicles & personnel. Blue Bear primed sub-contract to Overview Ltd for the supply of the PodView camera systems and hardware support/engineering effort required for integration for production of deployable prototype operating Centurion software & edge-processing AI recognition analytics for acquisition and classification of personnel and vehicles b. User training on BBSR Centurion of 15 ranks from 40 Cdo and Cdo Logs Regiment One-week training course for CDO personnel Consolidation training flying system in synthetic environment on Centurion c. Development and submission of beyond visual line of sight (BLOS) operational safety case into the CAA to authorise UK experimentation to cover two events. BVLOS OSC designed and submitted. Needs to be done ASAP to try and get approved it in time. d. Trials & safety support to enable tactical swarm experimentation with frontline users: 8 days with 3 Cdo Bde UAV operators on MOD training estate e. Digital logistic demand development: Development & delivery of logistics software plugin to enable automated 'on demand' tactical resupply from multiple task-loaded TRV-150s. FCF CSS ConOps integration work into Centurion and behaviour development

Award Detail

Award Criteria

CPV Codes

• 48900000 - Miscellaneous software package and computer systems
• 48000000 - Software package and information systems

Indicators

• Award on basis of price.

Legal Justification

The JHub team, part of the United Kingdom Ministry of Defence (MoD), intends to award a 4-month contract from March 2021 to July 2021 (with a value of £625,000) to Blue Bear Systems Research Ltd (BBSR) to supply nine micro-computers and bespoke 'swarming' software and integrate them onto existing Royal Marine Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (UAVs), which are used as logistic resupply vehicles. It is considered that this contract can be awarded using the negotiated procedure without prior publication of a contract notice pursuant to regulation 16(1)(a)(ii) of the Defence and Security Public Contract Regulations 2011 for technical reasons. This is because BBSR's 'swarming' system is the only system considered to have the proven ability to a) connect with any existing UAV with minimal integration; and b) control multiple UAVs to operate autonomously in 'swarms'. BBSR is also the only company to have been granted permission from the UK Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) to conduct 'swarm' flights of up to 20 UAVs in UK airspace, which is required in order to conduct the necessary flight trials.