CFPs: Commercial Applications of Space-Enabled Robotics (Health and Safety)

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

This call falls under the umbrella of the “Commercial Applications of Space-Enabled Robotics” thematic call for proposals. Within the health and safety sectors, applications are foreseen related to disaster response, search and rescue, CBRNE (Chemical, Biological, Radiological, Nuclear and Explosive) operational safety, wildfire detection and response, telemedicine, social robotics, public and worker safety, and further application areas identified within the domains of health and safety.

Objectives 

• The main objectives of the Space-Enabled Robotics call are to:
  • Enable and cultivate the study, development, and demonstration of innovative services at the intersection of space-based services and robotic systems, to create an added-value in various industries. This made possible by integrating any of satellite communications, earth observation and/or positioning at the system or service level (i.e., integrated with the robotic system directly, or supporting the overall service).
  • Utilise this combination of advanced technologies to improve industrial efficiency, productivity, operational safety, competitiveness, and generally tackle challenges in industry that could not otherwise be addressed without the unique complementarity of these technologies.
  • Support the adoption of satellite technology/data into robotic systems in the context of operational services such that the emergent design, development, and implementation constraints are identified, evaluated, and mitigated, to enable more rapid realisation and scaling-up of such services on Earth, into the future.
  • Enable the creation of new markets and the establishment of novel business models permitted by this combination of technologies in the chosen sectors.
  • In accordance with the above, the objectives of this specific subtheme are to:
  • Identify the most feasible and attractive commercial opportunities within the health and safety sectors for the uptake of robotic systems, that enable positive societal impact.
  • Establish the roadmap and associated constraints to operational deployment of services based on such robotic systems.
  • Develop and demonstrate such services in pre-operational environments to showcase the perceived value propositions in the intended commercial setting.
  • Support the eventual uptake of robotic systems on land, sea or air, in operational settings in which they prove viable and offer significant benefits by way of enhanced safety, sustainability, efficiency, and commercial competitiveness.

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 Global Navigation Satellite Systems (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 provide 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 (SatEO). It is expected that SatEO 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. SatEO 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 they offer?

• They offer funding and support to companies, both for business case assessment and for the development of new, space-based services. The offer includes:
  • zero-equity funding
  • technical and commercial guidance
  • access to the network and partners
  • ESA brand credibility
• Note: (50-80% depending on SME Status and Member State Approval)

What they look for?

• They 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.

For more information, visit ESA.