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FEBRUARY 1, 2019 Deadline for next round of funding proposals for LookNorth-USC/STC Projects that support for Unmanned Aerial Systems BVLOS Capability Development
Program Description
LOOKNorth and Unmanned Systems Canada are partnering to build a national cluster of industry and academia to develop the Unmanned Aerial Systems (UAS) industry in Canada, with a focus on accelerating the commercialization of UAS-based Beyond Visual Line of Sight (BVLOS) remote sensing applications.
Canada’s National UAS Industry Cluster
The overall objective of the national industry cluster is to create a risk-based process to assess concepts of operation through a Transport Canada approved risk model.
LOOKNorth/USC-STC have established a national testbed to collect relevant performance data from flight trials and to evaluate these data using a common risk assessment tool.
This national testbed is intended to promote collaboration amongst Canadian companies to create and utilize a common risk model for all flight trials. Over time, the aggregation of data collected during these flight trials as well as the resulting analyses will support
Ultimately, the process will drive the development of new markets, attract
investment and improve the competitive position of Canadian companies in a global marketplace.
Scope and Intent
LOOKNorth is soliciting proposals from Canadian-based small- and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) with interest in advancing Unmanned Aerial Vehicles and Systems (UAV / UAS) into BVLOS operations and applications.
In February 2018, Transport Canada announced a call for proposals for Canadian companies to submit concepts of operations leading to the approval of BVLOS demonstration projects in 2018.
Four successful proposals were selected by Transport Canada in June 2018 and approved for LOOKNorth funding in October 2018. Updates from these four initial proposals were announced in October this year’s annual national Unmanned Systems Canada Conference and Tradeshow in Vancouver.
Five additional projects were approved by LOOKNorth in December 2018. Details will be published soon, as the objective of these projects is threefold:
- To provide regulators and other industry stakeholders with operating experience and resulting data to model and profile risk associated with BVLOS operations across a range of application scenarios;
- To validate and demonstrate new technologies that enable safe BVLOS operations, and;
- To inform stakeholders regarding the development of BVLOS regulations in Canada
LOOKNorth/USC-STC selected Periculum Labs to develop the common risk model and are currently partnering with the approved Canadian UAV operators to conduct flights for a range of end-user applications. Currently, application trials have been approved to validate operation and collect performance data in the following operational scenarios:
Oil and gas pipeline and facilities inspection
Mineral surveying and exploration
Atmospheric / meteorology
Commercial parcel and emergency supply delivery
Search and rescue
Wildlife surveying
Ice monitoring during freeze-up and breakup conditions
Highway and infrastructure inspection
NEW CALL FOR PROPOSALS – DUE FEBRUARY 1, 2019
Proposals are requested for flight trials addressing these and other operational scenarios that demonstrate a solid business case. Priority will be given to support for those proposals that were not successful in the Transport Canada 2018 Call for Concept of Operations demonstrating BVLOS. Those projects maybe benefit from simulating BVLOS by adding resources to operate under VLOS.
Additionally, LOOKNorth is interested in partnering opportunities for the development and commercialization of innovative remote sensing technologies and services that demonstrate high social, environmental and economic impact
Interested proponents are encouraged to contact LOOKNorth to discuss their project prior to submitting a proposal.
Eligibility
Proposals will be accepted from project teams led by Canadian SMEs to help rapidly advance the commercialization of BVLOS operations. All proposed projects considered for funding must demonstrate a strong commercialization component. BVLOS application trials target technology solutions at a technology readiness level (TRL) in the range of TRL 5 – 7 (http://esto.nasa.gov/files/trl_definitions.pdf).
For projects to be considered for funding under this call for proposals, the proposal must demonstrate interest and support from an end-user partner with interest in BVLOS. The industry partner should recognize the information gap and the need for the proposed solution as well as commit to supporting the proposed field validation with a combination of cash and
Preference will be given to projects where the end user partner indicates interest and willingness to adopt the technology within their operations and where LOOKNorth can play a role in commercializing the technology.
Successful proposals should address “benchmarks” for expected and desired outcomes. This should include, but not be limited to, new products/services, incremental revenue, new employment and investment potential from a successful demonstration.
CONDITIONS FOR APPLICANTS
For BVLOS concepts of operations projects, the following conditions apply:
LOOKNorth will fund up to 50% of eligible costs, to a maximum of $50,000 of LOOKNorth funds per project.
Projects should be no more than 12 months duration.
Successful proposals must demonstrate a confirmed commitment of interest and support from an end-user industry partner. Industry support can be a combination of end-user and SME cash and in-kind contributions.
Preference will be given to projects with strong end-user support, as this indicates end-user interest and commercialization potential.
All proposed projects considered for funding must demonstrate a strong commercialization component.
General Instructions
Data and Intellectual Property
Any intellectual property developed as a result of a funded project shall belong exclusively to the Proponent.
All applicants must agree to make their pre-flight profiling data as well as results of their flight tests, including operational missions, available for input into the testbed and risk evaluation tools.
All applicants must agree that their results may be shared among Transport Canada and industry cluster participants.
Proprietary and commercially sensitive information will remain protected.
Submission Instructions
1. Interested proponents must complete this proposal template, located on the LookNorth website:
https://www.looknorth.org/cms_content/files/files/Investment%20Proposal%20Template%20-%20FIN.pdf
Proponents who have previously applied to the Transport Canada 2018 Call for Concept of Operations demonstrating BVLOS are asked to include a copy of the proposal with their application. Full instructions for completing the application are included with the Proposal template.
As well, proponents must complete a preliminary Environmental Assessment Checklist. A fillable PDF is also located on the LookNorth website:
https://www.looknorth.org/cms_content/files/files/LN-EAP&Checklist-Fillable.pdf
Proponents are asked to note the following important dates:
Announcement Date for Call for Proposals – December 21, 2018
Submission Deadline – February 1st, 2019
Expected Decision Date – March 12th, 2019
Questions or Clarifications
Please submit enquiries and requests for clarifications to:
Neil Cater – Operations email: [email protected]
Tel: (709) 864-7808
About LOOKNorth
LOOKNorth is a Centre of Excellence for Commercialization and Research (under Canada’s Networks of Centres of Excellence program), hosted by C-CORE. LOOKNorth’s Investment Program fosters and supports innovation in
remote sensing technologies and
About Unmanned Systems/ Systèmes Télécommandés Canada
Unmanned Systems/ Systèmes Télécommandés Canada (USC-STC) is a federally registered not-for-profit association established in 2003 to represent the Canadian unmanned vehicle systems community. With over 500 members, USC has played a pivotal role in establishing the Canadian Unmanned Aerial Systems (UAS) industrial sector in Canada. After initiating UAS regulatory development with Transport Canada in 2007 as the co-chair of regulatory working groups, USC-STC has continued to develop and disseminate research and best practices in the aerial sector that have helped to launch approximately 1,000 new businesses operating within Visual Line of Sight across Canada.
The national industry role of USC-STC has expanded to represent entrepreneurs, businesses, students academia, industry, and government organizations working in the aerial, ground and marine remotely-piloted and unmanned vehicle systems sector.
USC-STC is committed to promoting public awareness, education and appreciation for the social, economic, and environmental benefits that unmanned systems can provide to individuals, communities and organizations.
