Page 90 - Australian Defence Magazine June 2021
P. 90

                     88 LAND FORCES ARX & AID
JUNE 2021 | WWW.AUSTRALIANDEFENCE.COM.AU
 maintaining an understanding of its environment and what may be happening around it. The software aggregates data and presents it to the human-in-the-loop in a readily- understandable format and has a number of defence ap- plications, including command and control of swarms of drones. Raytracer has also engaged with space agencies around the world, including NASA JPL’s Rover projects.
QUANTUM TECHNOLOGY CHALLENGE 2021
Occupying one end of the double exhibition hall on day two of the event, QTC 2021 featured presentations from companies and teams responding to Army’s first three challenges for the
The inaugural event saw presentations on the impor- tance of maintaining a leading role in the development of quantum technologies by Australia’s Chief Scientist Dr Cathy Foley and Chief Defence Scientist Professor Tanya Monro, and also provided a vehicle for the launch of Ar- my’s Quantum Technology Roadmap by Head Land Capa- bility, Major General Simon Stuart.
“Quantum technologies are part of an emerging group of emerging disruptive technologies that have the poten- tial to drive significant change in the character of war- fare,” MAJGEN Stuart told the audience. “We recognise that we need to act now in order to understand, in order to be an informed and a demanding customer, to be able to answer the ‘could we? ’ and ‘should we? ’ questions. To be able to understand the application of quantum tech- nologies across our endeavours, and to be able to sensibly, accurately, and ethically answer the questions as to where we should – and how we should – employ these technolo- gies and, just as importantly, answer the question: where we should not.”
MAJGEN Stuart noted that quantum technologies are diverse, complex and generally early in their technical readiness, in terms of their application.
“They demand that we think in new ways about how we employ and exploit them,” he added. “Right now, as we start to formulate our thinking, and to learn by doing, we expect quantum technologies to impact various areas in the Land domain. Therefore, our challenge is to adapt, understand, co-develop and exploit the opportunities that quantum technologies offer.” ■
BELOW: Fortitude Valley-based science and defence SME Raytracer demonstrated the capabilities of its Carbon and Spotlite software platform on a seven-axis robotic arm.
  “MAJGEN STUART NOTED THAT QUANTUM TECHNOLOGIES ARE DIVERSE, COMPLEX AND GENERALLY EARLY IN THEIR TECHNICAL READINESS, IN TERMS OF THEIR APPLICATION.”
application of quantum technology. The organisations included DWave and NEC, EQUS-WA-UQ, Hueristic Algorithm Quantum Computing, Inte- grated Atomic Sensors Tam, Q-CTRL, Quantum Diamond Magnetometers (QDM), and QuantX Labs.
QTC 2021 is the first in a series Army intends to run, each presenting industry and academia with new prob- lems to solve. Introduced by RICO’s resident quantum technologies sub- ject matter expert, Captain Marcus Doherty, the initial three challenges are: Making the ground transparent –
  the use of quantum sensors to detect subterranean structures and track the movement of humans or materiel through tun- nels and sewers: Denying the enemy secure communications – the ability to disrupt the space-based communications of adversaries; and Resupplying troops in battle quickly, safely and efficiently – the use of quantum computing solutions to optimise the ability of Army’s logistics chain to resupply sol- diers in battle by future autonomous systems.
    ADM ROYA GHODSI




















































































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