DEADLINE ALERT: Australian Army launches Quantum Next Generation Radar Challenge 2022

The Australian Army’s Quantum Next Generation (QNG) Radar Challenge is open for entries. Army is challenging Australian industry and academia to identify the most disruptive applications of quantum technology.

Team Nominations opened on 5 October and close on 2 November

The Challenge is open to teams of undergraduate and postgraduate students and early career researchers (within 6 years of higher degree award) associated with Australian institutions, and current Defence personnel or APS members.

Teams must consist of 2 – 4 players. Players must be current Defence personnel or APS members, undergraduate student, postgraduate student or early career researcher enrolled at an Australian institution (will be required to nominate with your institutions email address.

The first 50 teams will be selected to participate.

The Challenge is part of a push by the Army to build sovereign capability and leverage Australian research to gain and retain an early quantum advantage. The Army Quantum Technology Roadmap outlines Army’s aims.

The 2022 Challenge is “To find the optimal technique for employing quantum sensors in radar”. Army uses radar in variety of ways, including mobile radar systems to detect and target land and air threats, including enemy artillery fire, aircraft and tanks.

As military technology evolves and threats diversify, Army wants to know if quantum microwave sensors can enhance existing radar systems to detect smaller and weaker scattering targets that are moving faster and are further away, while emitting less power.

Quantum sensors operate completely differently to existing sensors. Finding the optimal employment technique is critical to accurately assess the advantages of quantum sensors.

QNG Challenge teams will explore the optimal sequence of radar pulses and quantum sensor configurations that estimates the range, velocity and cross-section of target objects with highest precision within a given amount of time and radar power.

Teams will require an intermediate knowledge of programming and data analysis. Possible solutions might involve the application of machine learning techniques.

Teams could be made of any of the following mix of skills and disciplines: Mathematics, Physics, Engineering, and Computer and Data Science.

The solutions pitched by QNG Challenge teams will help Army assess the advantages offered by quantum-enhanced radar and will frame future opportunities to develop the technology.

The QNG2022 winning team at Pitchfest will receive a special invitation and admission to Army Quantum Technology Challenge 2023 (QTC23 – subject to security and admission policies); and an invitation to submit a proposal to further develop and exhibit their solution at Army QTC23 up to $50,000.

The details:

• 5 October – 2 November – Team nominations open
• 4 November – Teams registered and provided with login details
• 7 November – 7 December – The 2022 Radar Challenge
• 8 December – Results published and shortlisted teams announced for PitchFest
• 9 – 16 December – PitchFest and winner announced

Click here to nominate