UK regulations around transporting hazardous or explosive materials are rigorous, requiring a high degree of thorough, scenario-based testing. In a controlled test environment, sensors and data loggers are placed within a container, to validate its integrity and functionality, even in extreme conditions.

HMGCC Co-Creation is a partnership between HMGCC and Dstl (Defence Science and Technology Laboratory), created to deliver a new, bold and innovative way of working with the wider UK science and technology community. They bring together the best in class across industry, academia, and government, to work collaboratively on national security engineering challenges and accelerate innovation.

Scopes

• The focus of this 12-week project is to demonstrate a concept that could collect temperature, pressure and acceleration data.
• HMGCC Co-Creation will consider different ways to approach this problem, whether it is a high temperature data logger, advanced insulation material or another technology solution.
• HMGCC Co-Creation is also open to solutions at Technology Readiness Levels (TRL) from 5 – 9. It is recommended that applicants should label their existing TRL as well as the level expected by the end of the 12 weeks.

Funding Information

• Budget per single organisation, up to £60,000.
• Project duration: 12 weeks.

Eligibility Criteria

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

Ineligibility Criteria

• 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.
• Restrictions during operation:
  • The container cannot be altered or opened once testing has started.
  • The container acts as Faraday cage, blocking any wireless signals.
  • There must be a breach opening or connection to the container to allow cables to protrude and allow data transfer.
  • Active cooling cannot be used, nor can potentially dangerous materials such as liquid nitrogen or asbestos.
  • The data logger must be able to be powered by a battery.

Evaluation Criteria

• All proposals, regardless of the application route, will be assessed by the HMGCC Co-Creation team. Proposals will be scored 1–5 on the following criteria:
  • Scope: Does the proposal fit within the challenge scope, taking into consideration cost and benefit?
  • Innovation: Is the technical solution credible, will it create new knowledge and IP, or use existing IP?
  • Deliverables: Will the proposal deliver a full or partial solution, if a partial solution, are there collaborations identified?
  • Timescale: Will the proposal deliver a minimum viable product within the project duration?
  • Budget: Are the project finances within the competition scope?
  • Team: Are the organisation/delivery team credible in this technical area?

Applications Requirements

• Essential requirements:
  • Two triaxial shock accelerometers.
  • Two triaxial angular rate sensors.
  • Six temperature channels (PRTS) or thermocouples.
  • Eighteen strain gauge/pressure channels.
  • The data capture package inclusive of battery and any thermal protection must be accommodated within a limited overall size of 200 mm x 200 mm x 150 mm.
  • If a thermal insulated package is developed, then a minimum of 150 mm x 150 mm x 80 mm internal volume is required to mount the current data logger system.
  • The test item is exposed to a temperature of 90 °C for 14 hours, but the maximum operating temperature of the current system is 60 ⁰C.
  • A data logger to record temperature, pressure, and acceleration for at least 36 hours, with the minimum number of channels.
  • Alternatively, a demonstrable method of keeping standard loggers within their safe operating temperature would be acceptable.

For more information, visit HMGCC Co-Creation.