Call for Proposals - Commercial Applications of Space-Enabled Robotics: Maritime and Marine
15.10.2024
ESA-STAR REFERENCE 10494/1019
Opportunity Call for Proposals (Non-Competitive)
Activity Feasibility Study, Demonstration Project
Opening date 23-09-2024
Closing date 23-11-2024
This call is part of the umbrella of “Commercial Applications of Space-Enabled Robotics” thematic call for proposals.
This Call for Proposals invites proposals for feasibility studies and demonstration projects for services that combine the use of satellite technologies and robotics in downstream services for Maritime and Marine applications.
‘Robotics’ is here defined to include physical robots, autonomous drones, machines and vehicles, and precursory solutions or those that enable these (e.g. perception and navigation systems for autonomous vehicle services, connectivity solutions to enable tele-operated robotics…).
Within the maritime and marine sectors, applications are foreseen related to port automation, offshore infrastructure operations, autonomous and teleoperated vessels, aquaculture, water quality and pollution monitoring, marine surveys, coastal surveillance, and further application areas identified within the maritime and marine domains.
Value of space
Satellite Positioning can provide coarse to high accuracy positioning information to autonomous vehicles, vessels and drones operating in outdoor spaces. This can be used for navigation, geo- and timestamping of collected data, time-synchronisation of networked vehicles, and/or determination of speed and heading. Satellite positioning could be combined with inertial and alternative positioning techniques to support effective navigation. Augmentation of GNSS can offer higher positioning accuracies via solutions such as Galileo HAS (High Accuracy Service), RTK (Real-Time Kinematic), or otherwise, with the selection dependent on the service requirements.
Satellite Communications provides data, video and voice communications and may add value to applications implemented in the following service provision scenarios:
Environments that have inadequate, unreliable, compromised, or altogether absent mobile cellular connectivity.
Mobile services that operate across regions with varying cellular connectivity quality (good in certain areas, poor in others…) and require continuous coverage and availability.
Services that have high security, robustness and resilience requirements may benefit from satellite communications for redundancy in compromised or unforeseen circumstances.
Satellite Earth Observation. It is expected that satellite earth observation could support robotic solutions at the service level i.e., providing complementary or enabling datasets to support the activities of the autonomous systems. This could be through situational awareness data to support the navigation of a robot, or use of earth observation data to inform, initiate, or halt deployment of an autonomous system. Satellite earth observation data could refer to air quality measurements, thermal heat signatures, optical, radar, meteorology, or combinations thereof.
Spaceflight Technology. Spaceflight Technology Spin-Outs - applications of robotics developed for use in space (and other astronomical objects) that also have commercial applications on Earth, i.e. Spaceflight Spin-Outs, are also considered eligible. This could relate to tele-robotic solutions and algorithms (perception, planning, control…) developed for autonomy of space robotics that have applications on Earth, or otherwise.
What we look for
We look for promising business ideas addressing topics of relevance or related areas that propose:
attractive market opportunities, identified customer needs and customer engagement
commercially-viable service concepts
technically feasible solutions
added value of space data or technology
motivated teams with business, technical, and financial expertise
What we offer
We offer funding and support to companies, both for business case assessment and for the development of new, space-based services. Our offer includes:
zero-equity funding*
technical and commercial guidance
access to our network and partners
ESA brand credibility
*(50-80% depending on SME Status and Member State Approval)
ESA tender information
The initiative is open to the submission of proposals for Feasibility Studies and Demonstration Projects:
Feasibility Studies - which provide the preparatory framework to identify, analyse and define new potentially sustainable services
Demonstration Projects - dedicated to the implementation and demonstration of pre-operational services
How to Apply / More Information
https://business.esa.int/funding/call-for-proposals-non-competitive/commercial-applications-space-enabled-robotics-maritime-and-marine
Location: Europe