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Author Archives: HM Government

News story: Accelerator innovation network event: autonomous last mile resupply

The Defence and Security Accelerator is holding an event in London on 23 May 2017 to provide information on the autonomous last mile resupply themed competition.

Suppliers attending the event will be able to hear presentations about the autonomous last mile resupply themed competition which seeks to develop and demonstrate the use of autonomous systems to deliver mission-critical supplies, focusing on the challenging ‘last mile’ resupply in the land environment.

If you cannot attend the event, sign up for our webinar which will take place on 30 May 2017.

The competition is seeking new technologies, processes and ways of working to improve the way we deliver mission-critical supplies, focusing on the challenging ‘last mile’ resupply in the land environment.

It involves delivering combat supplies from the forward-most location to personnel engaged in combat operations. Although relatively small in distance, these resupply activities are challenging as they are in an environment that is typically hostile, complex and contested. These activities need to quickly and efficiently deliver vital supplies in order to enable successful mission outcomes.

The challenges of this Accelerator competition are to develop and demonstrate:

  • Challenge 1: unmanned air and ground load carrying platforms
  • Challenge 2: technologies and systems to allow load carrying platforms to operate autonomously
  • Challenge 3: technologies to autonomously predict, plan, track and optimise resupply demands from military users

Up to £3 million is available in total across phase 1 and 2 of this themed competition.

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Press release: Drivers advised to plan journeys ahead of Bike4Life charity bike event

Drivers are advised to plan their journeys and allow extra time as around 5,000 motorcyclists take part in the Midlands Air Ambulance Charity’s seventh annual Bike4Life event between Shrewsbury and RAF Cosford this Sunday (30 April).

Motorcyclists participating in the event will leave Meole Brace in Shrewsbury at 11.30am on Sunday and will ride to RAF Cosford via the A5, M54 and A41.

The 23-mile journey only takes around half an hour but, depending on the number of people participating, there could be delays and some congestion along this route.

The following closures will be in place during the event (approximately 11am to 1:30pm):

  • A5 eastbound between Dobbies roundabout and the M54, including the three roundabout entrances (Dobbies, Preston and Emstrey)
  • M54 eastbound entry slip roads at junctions 7, 6, 5, 4 and 3
  • M54 westbound exit slip road at junction 3

Diversion routes will be clearly signposted.

Road users may experience some delays along these routes on Sunday morning, but these should ease fairly quickly.

Drivers are advised to plan their journeys ahead of time or to use alternative routes if possible around the middle of the day.

The event is organised by and raises funds for Midlands Air Ambulance Charity, which attends nearly 100 motorcycle-related incidents every year.

Highways England provides live traffic information via its website, local and national radio travel bulletins, electronic road signs and mobile platforms, such as Android and iPhone apps.

For more information about the event go to the bike4lifefest website.

General enquiries

Members of the public should contact the Highways England customer contact centre on 0300 123 5000.

Media enquiries

Journalists should contact the Highways England press office on 0844 693 1448 and use the menu to speak to the most appropriate press officer.

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