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The International Global-X Challenge, launched in April by the Office of Naval Research Global, has selected four winning projects, including two Australian teams, that will demonstrate revolutionary capabilities for the US Navy, Marine Corps, commercial marketplace and the public.
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After evaluating 11 full proposals – chosen from 385 highly competitive white papers from 33 different countries – ONR Global selected four teams, with members from Australia, Denmark, Spain, Switzerland, the United Kingdom and the United States.
The awards, totaling over US$1.1 million, fall under two challenge areas. The selected international teams of researchers will have nine months to demonstrate that their concepts successfully meet objectives.
Global-X Challenge is designed to discover, disrupt and ultimately provide a catalyst for development and delivery of new capabilities – following successful concept demonstration by the four winning teams in June 2021, ONR Global may support an additional nine months of research, while transition partners prepare to implement technology maturation for insertion into the fleet.
ONR Global’s executive officer, Captain Matthew Farr, explained, “We are very excited about the level of interest generated by this initial stage of the first-ever edition of Global-X.”
“We received groundbreaking proposals from all around the world – highly capable ideas with the potential to deliver value throughout the US Navy and Marine Corps,” CAPT Farr added.
Under the challenge topic “Multifunctional Maritime Films for Persistent and Survivable Platforms and Warfighters”, Dr Nick Aldred, University of Essex, and his team will demonstrate a sample biofilm that will resist biofouling with the goal of eventually replacing traditional hull coatings.
The concepts of the remaining three winning teams address the challenge topic “Object Detection and Identification in any Medium”.
Dr Brant Gibson of Melbourne-based RMIT University and his team will demonstrate a robust quantum-limited diamond-fiber magnetometer that may achieve nanotesla sensitivity for long-term, wide-area maritime surveillance.
At the same time, University of Edinburgh’s Dr Teuta Pilizota and her team will explore whether a self-sustained electrical bio-chip can detect flow and small traces of chemicals.
Finally, Professor Gregory Cohen, Western Sydney University (WSU), and his team will demonstrate neuromorphic event-based sensors that can quickly detect submerged vehicles and objects – and enable celestial navigation without breaking the water surface.
Dr Rhett Jefferies, ONR Global’s technical director, said, “Global-X has already stimulated novel, high-risk multidisciplinary research ideas with both military and commercial value and that may address current and future US Navy and Marine Corps technology needs. We are confident the winning projects we selected will provide a glimpse of new capabilities, forever changing how we operate.”
ONR Global sponsors scientific efforts outside of the US, working with scientists and partners worldwide to discover and advance naval capabilities.
Stephen Kuper
Steve has an extensive career across government, defence industry and advocacy, having previously worked for cabinet ministers at both Federal and State levels.
