The challenge

Context of the challenge

Entering and exiting buildings discreetly to conduct reconnaissance missions is a key requirement for national security and defence organisations. Uncrewed vehicles offer a safer, more discreet alternative to deploying human personnel.

However, buildings often contain complex infrastructure that is difficult to access and navigate, especially for robots limited to a single mode of movement. Ground robots often struggle with vertical obstacles, stairs and gaps. Aerial systems can reach elevated areas but may have limited flight time and are easier to detect. Maritime systems work well in water but cannot easily move into buildings or across dry terrain.

Emerging technologies now make it possible to combine multiple mobility methods into a single robotic platform, opening up access routes that were previously unavailable to uncrewed systems.

The gap

We want to explore a single, small, robotic system that can move effectively between water, land and air and navigate through confined infrastructure.

This involves significant challenges in:

• Combining multiple modes of movement in one system.
• Miniaturisation.
• Environmental robustness.

This challenge seeks to assess the feasibility of such systems and identify the most promising technical approaches for future development.

Example use case

Captain Robinson is leading a recon team investigating a large industrial warehouse. The building has limited conventional access routes, multiple floors, machinery platforms and service infrastructure and is protected by sophisticated alarm systems and constant monitoring by personnel.

To gain access, Captain Robinson deploys a compact robotic platform, no bigger than his hand, that can travel through land, air and water. Although highly advanced, it currently needs to be controlled by a person; full autonomous navigation is a future ambition.

The robot is deployed into a drainage outflow leading into the facility. It travels through a section of pipework before moving onto dry ground inside the building, then navigates through confined service spaces and ventilation ducts. When it reaches a vertical obstacle, it switches to flight mode and ascends through an atrium to inspect elevated equipment and infrastructure.

Throughout the mission, the system carries a mission-specific payload, transmitting information back to an operator as it moves through the building.

When its mission ends and its battery is almost depleted, the robot is navigated to a discreet space, such as a ventilation duct, where it is unlikely to be discovered until well after the mission is finished.

The mission is a success: Captain Robinson gathers the data needed to report back to headquarters, without putting any lives at risk.

Project scope

This challenge seeks proof of concept demonstrations of technologies that could enable a future multi terrain robotic platform.

We are not looking for a fully operational end product. Instead, we want to understand what is technically achievable within a short development cycle, and to identify the key technical barriers to future capability development.

Within this 10-week project, the outcome should a minimum Technology Readiness Level (TRL) 4 – technology basic validation in a lab environment

Essential requirements:

• Demonstrate a robot operating in at least two mobility domains from: water, land, air.
• Demonstrate mobility in a scenario representative of a built environment.
• Demonstrate the ability to carry a representative payload of at least 100g.
• Provide a final report describing technical performance, limitations, and a roadmap for future development.

Desirable requirements:

• Demonstrate operation across all three mobility domains.
• Demonstrate proof of concept operating for up to one hour.
• Demonstrate autonomous navigation.
• Demonstrate operation with intermittent GNSS availability.
• Operate within confined spaces such as ducts, pipes or service voids.
• Total system volume under 0.01m3.
• Keep total system mass under 1 Kg.

Constraints:

• Human operators must remain responsible for operational decision-making.
• The solution should not depend on continuous access to public cloud services.
• Applicants should clearly identify technical risks and assumptions.

Not required:

• A production-ready platform.
• A focus on a specific payload type.
• Purely theoretical studies with no demonstrator activity.
• Horizon-scanning activities as the sole deliverable.

Eligibility

This challenge is open to sole innovators, industry, academic and research organisations of all types and sizes. There is no requirement for security clearances.

Solution providers or direct collaboration from countries listed by the UK government under trade sanctions and/or arms embargoes, are not eligible for HMGCC Co-Creation challenges.

Invitation to present

Successful applicants will be invited to a pitch day, giving them a chance to meet the HMGCC Co-Creation team and pitch the proposal during a 20-minute presentation, followed by questions.

After the pitch day, a final funding decision will be made. For unsuccessful applicants, feedback will be given in a timely manner.

Clarifying questions

Clarifying questions or general requests for assistance can be submitted directly to  [email protected] before the deadline with the challenge title as the subject. These clarifying questions may be technical, procedural, or commercial in subject, or anything else where assistance is required. Please note that answered questions will be published to facilitate a fair and open competition.

How to apply

Please submit your application on the HMGCC Co-Creation website. Any queries please email [email protected] and [email protected].

All information you provide to us as part of your application will be handled in confidence.