Transforming Arctic and Antarctic Navigation for the Royal Navy
How H4MoD inspired and equipped one student to pivot their career from civil service to the founder of the dual-use start-up; Inqusiv
This case study follows Adam Hunter, who pursued his Master's degree at Imperial College London and engaged in the H4MoD module in Spring 2022. Inspired by the challenges faced during the programme, Adam founded Inqusiv, a company aimed at improving ice condition information in the Arctic and Antarctic regions. Collaborating with the Royal Navy and international partners, this project showcases the profound impact of the Common Mission Project's work and our effects on the defence ecosystem. By operationalising mandatory data gathered by navigators, Adam's story exemplifies the power of innovation, collaboration, and socially responsible entrepreneurship in enhancing maritime navigation safety and climate change studies.
Delving into the problem space
The UK's Royal Navy frequently operates in the challenging Arctic and Antarctic conditions where up-to-date situational awareness of ice regimes plays a pivotal role in mission success. To find an affordable solution that could enhance the resolution of ice condition monitoring in near real-time, the Royal Navy turned to the Common Mission Project's (CMP) Hacking for Ministry of Defence (H4MoD) programme.
Within the framework of the H4MoD programme, a team of Master's students embarked on a mission to understand and solve this complex problem. The existing free radar and optical satellite systems, updating every two to five days, lacked the necessary detail for icebreakers.
Building, testing, and developing MVPs
In their pursuit of a solution, the team delved into various possibilities, including quantum sensing and available satellite imagery. Their research led them to Duke Schneider, a Canadian expert in ice navigation, who shed light on a valuable untapped data source – mandated observation data from trained individuals aboard vessels.
With this insight, the team developed a minimum viable product (MVP) – a low-data platform allowing navigators to share their observation data and glean insights from others' observations. The platform's user-centric approach was akin to Twitter's low-data-rate infrastructure, simplifying information exchange.
Taking a solution idea to market
Reviewing how data might be better used marked the inception of Inqusiv, which Hunter founded after being inspired by his project’s potential for a data-centric solution. In expanding the MVP developed during the course, Inqusiv is investigating how Machine Learning methodologies might further support the navigation community.
While Inqusiv was rooted in the Royal Navy's problem, the problem is a clear example of how solving a defence issue has wider societal benefits. Data gathered by this platform can be used by climate scientists, navigation training services and even the Antarctic leisure industry. The Royal Navy continues to actively support the project. The initiative helps exemplify how the UK supports the Antarctic maritime navigation community.
Taking a leap of faith
Hunter's decision to establish Inqusiv was a leap of faith, departing from a stable civil service career, fuelled by his passion for using science and technology to address challenges.
Hunter also continues to draw upon his contacts within the defence ecosystem to bolster his team. Today, Inqusiv's team includes two alumni from Imperial College London’s ‘Hacking for MoD’ course and is actively exploring funding avenues beyond the UK defence arena, including NASA, Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office, UK Hydrographic Office, and the British Antarctic Survey.
For Inqusiv, the platform is not just a product, but a starting point for exploring socially responsible data use. Be it tracking climate change through moth sightings or performing sentiment analysis on terms of service, Inqusiv values trust and continues to reinforce it by ensuring data authenticity, protecting against data poisoning, and focusing on meaningful, user-oriented solutions.