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News | Defence
Defence CRC for Trusted Autonomous Systems
The first Defence Cooperative Research Centre (CRC) for Trusted Autonomous Systems was launched in Brisbane at
the International Conference on Robotics and Automation (ICRA) 2018.
Minister for Defence Industry, the Hon Christopher Pyne MP, welcomed the CRC which was established under the Next Generation Technologies Fund.
“The Defence CRC allows Australia’s industry and research sectors to collaborate with Defence on leading edge technologies such as autonomous systems to maintain the ADF’s capability advantage,” Minister Pyne said.
Inaugural founding company members
of the Defence CRC include BAE Systems Australia, DefendTex, RMIT University, and Defence Science and Technology.
Initially the Defence CRC will carry out three research projects in maritime, air and land led by Thales Australia, Lockheed Martin and BAE Systems.
The Defence CRC for Trust Autonomous Systems is chaired by Mr Jim McDowell, Chancellor of the University of South Australia.
Queensland hub for defence enterprises
Queensland Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk opened a new manufacturing facility
in Darra that will assist small Queensland businesses to capitalise on advanced manufacturing opportunities in the defence sector.
The Premier said Products for Industry Pty Ltd, one of 111 small and medium enterprises that form the Queensland branch of the Australian Defence and Industry Network, is typical of the kind of company that is set to benefit from the Land 400 Defence Contract.
“The Federal Government chose Rheinmetall’s Boxer Combat Reconnaissance Vehicle because it is the best option to keep our service men and women safe,” the Premier said.
“Rheinmetall chose Queensland as its location to build the Boxer over four other states because of our long association with defence industries, our advanced manufacturing capabilities, and because of companies like Products for Industry.”
Products for Industry (PFi) provides a wide range of products and services including custom- designed machinery, robotics, machine automation systems and safety systems.
The Premier said opportunities abounded for defence-related enterprises, from manufacturers and vocational trainers to electricians and engineers, as her Government rolls out its suite of industry roadmaps as part of the signature Advance Queensland initiative.
“We have released our Aerospace and Defence 10-year Roadmaps to accelerate the pace of growth and create sustainable jobs of the future,” the Premier said.
“We are also establishing Queensland as an international hub for Unmanned Aerial Systems, and we are pursuing supply chain opportunities within major international projects such as deep maintenance of RAAF aircraft.”
“The technologies and machinery we need to pursue these opportunities are here at PFi’s new facility, and so are the bright minds—100 of them—that can design and install, service and repair them.
“There’s no doubt small business has a big part to play in Queensland’s economic future.”
Siemens and UniSA partnership to train students
Siemens and the University of South Australia (UniSA) have joined in a partnership that will see the transfer of world-leading industrial software to train students for work in cutting edge advanced manufacturing, including naval shipbuilding.
The $450 million grant will see Siemens share its industrial Product Lifecycle Management (PLM) software systems with the university, ensuring students have access to advanced software, processes and best practices
that are used to develop some of the most sophisticated global products and systems in industries including automotive, aerospace, shipbuilding and high-tech electronics.
This $450 million grant will provide young South Australians with training in some of the most advanced shipbuilding design and production software in the world.
This grant is part of Siemens’ commitment of over $1 billion in advanced PLM software
grants to universities nationally and will enable students and the university to develop the skills needed to successfully participate in the fourth industrial revolution (Industry 4.0).
Premier of South Australia, the Hon Steven Marshall MP welcomed the partnership between Siemens and the University of South Australia, and said that the venture is a fantastic way of engaging young students in advanced technologies and up skilling them for jobs of the future.
“This investment in shipbuilding technology will act as a catalyst for South Australian skills development in advanced manufacturing,
as well as having broader applications, in
Caption (L to R): Minister Christopher Pyne, SA Premier Steven Marshall, UniSA Vice Chancellor David Lloyd, Siemens Australia chairman and CEO Jeff Connolly and Tanya Monro, UniSA’s Deputy Vice Chancellor of Research and Innovation
particular for our growing space sector,” Premier Marshall said.
“The defence and space industries will create future jobs for young South Australians,
and it’s exciting that students will now have access to state-of-the-art software and when they finish study there will be jobs for them here in their home state.”
10 | June 2018