Dual-use technology

Robots can already fly reconnaissance missions, carry supplies and enter areas considered too dangerous for people. But many real-world environments are still designed around...

Monitoring remote stretches of water presents an awkward logistics problem. Boats can remain at sea for long periods but may take considerable time to...

Detecting radio signals across a wide range of frequencies normally creates a hardware problem. Conventional antennas are closely tied to the wavelength they need...

Battery weight remains one of the biggest constraints on electric drones and autonomous systems. Adding more cells can extend range or endurance, but the...

Robot swarms could eventually search disaster zones, monitor hazardous areas or coordinate autonomous missions without requiring a human operator to control every machine. But...

Moving people and cargo quickly across coastal waters usually means choosing between two very different options. Boats can travel directly between ports but are...

Electric boats face a problem familiar from the early days of electric cars: propulsion technology can advance faster than the infrastructure needed to recharge...

Moving data from an old smartphone to a new one is supposed to be a simple process. Built-in migration tools can transfer photos, messages,...

Satellites face a fundamental limitation in orbit: nearly everything they do depends on the electricity they can generate and store onboard. As spacecraft take...

Autonomous vehicles, drones and military platforms increasingly depend on accurate positioning to understand where they are and navigate safely. But positioning becomes more difficult...

Smart devices are becoming increasingly capable, but their growing computing power also creates new cybersecurity risks. Televisions, cameras, household appliances and other internet-connected products...

Military drones are evolving quickly, but the factories building them do not always move at the same speed. Traditional aircraft manufacturing can depend on...

INNOFENSE was created to identify promising technologies from the civilian market and help unlock their potential for defense applications. Following the progress achieved in...

Making a small robot move quickly across unpredictable terrain presents a basic engineering problem. Tiny machines cannot carry large motors or heavy power systems,...

Identifying an unknown chemical or biological substance usually requires sophisticated laboratory equipment, creating a problem when the material is discovered in the field. Samples...

Making drones smaller creates an awkward navigation problem. Cameras become unreliable in darkness, smoke and dust, while LiDAR sensors and the processors needed to...

Have a technology with the potential to make an impact in the defense sector? iHLS, together with the Ministry of Defense and MAFAT, is...

Long-endurance drones such as the MQ-9 Reaper have provided militaries with persistent surveillance and strike capabilities for decades. But future conflicts may demand something...

Autonomous drones can move quickly in open air, but cluttered environments are much harder. Buildings, trees, narrow passages and other obstacles leave little room...

Autonomous aircraft can perform well in carefully controlled demonstrations, but real-world aviation presents a much harder test. Busy airports, unfamiliar routes and changing weather...

Building on the achievements of previous INNOFENSE cycles, iHLS, the Ministry of Defense and MAFAT are inviting startups to apply for the program’s seventh...

Bird strikes may sound like a minor aviation hazard, but a collision at high speed can damage engines, windscreens and other critical aircraft components....