IDEaS is seeking solutions that can detect, track, and identify micro and mini uncrewed aerial systems (UAS) in an urban environment.
Up to CAD$1.75M in prize money is on offer for solutions.
Selected applicants will be invited to demonstrate their solutions ate the CUAS 2027 (Urban) Sandbox in Ottawa, Ontario in late July 2027. Up to CAD$20,000 may be available to offset the costs of attending the Sandbox.
Each selected applicant will be allocated up to 5 days of testing in a a well-equipped and fully staffed test environment specifically designed for the challenge with such things as airborne targets, imagery, data collection and operational scenarios, as well as work and storage space, security, etc.
Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP), US Department of Defence Secretariat for Special Operations (SSO) (formerly IWTSD), Capability Development and Innovation and DND/CAF science experts, as well as other government safety and security potential users will be on site to give innovators observational feedback on their solutions.
At the time application, solutions must be at least at TRL 5 or have achieved TRL 4 with a plan to achieve TRL 5 by 10 March 2027.
IDEaS is open to all types of solutions. A preference will be shown for new, different concepts with detection methods that are substantially different to existing approaches, in order to fil a niche within a layered, multi-capability CUAS approach.
Priority may be given to solutions incorporating beyond visual line-of-sigh capabilities and/or low-cost sensor networks.
Applications close 1 December 2026.
