Charles Darwin University (CDU) opens the first research and training centre for drones in the Northern Territory.
The University will maintain leadership in revolutionary technologies like drones in North Australia and across the Asia Pacific region with the establishment of the North Australia Centre for Autonomous Systems (NACAS).
These machines and their associated artificial intelligence will play a key role in logistic supply chains, and the monitoring and surveillance for a broad range of industries and sectors relevant to Northern Australia including:
- Border security,
- Agriculture
- Fisheries,
- Emergency and disaster planning,
- Resource extraction, and energy and
- Health care
Centre Director Professor Hamish Campbell said demand for unmanned Autonomous System based services is set to grow exponentially over the coming decade.
“Charles Darwin University’s strategic location and immediate proximity to uncluttered air space has made it a key partner for government and industry in the development of Australia’s emerging autonomous technology industry,” Professor Campbell said.
“We know that the emerging autonomous technologies is a key area for investment and growth in North Australia, and this centre is about ensuring CDU becomes a leader in autonomous technology research and training.”
“Having a physical location in Darwin, Katherine, and Alice Springs, will be an attractive offering for autonomous system manufactures wishing to relocate or create an arm in Northern Australia, which would attract these companies to Territory.”
CDU has already been working to integrate drones into logistical remote area supply chains of the Northern Territory and the associated research to accompany this.
The centre has already attracted interest and funds from national and international partners.
Last month, the Federal Government announced that NACAS was one of 12 projects that received a share in $12 million from the Emerging Aviation Technology Partnership program.
The funding will go towards a trial of drone service delivery for health-related items between health centres and remote communities in the West Arhem region.
The CSIRO has awarded $1.4 million to the CDU and Royal Melbourne Institute of Technology University as part of the Next Generation Graduate Program to assist in the training of a workforce for Darwin’s TestLabs 4.0, a facility for emerging technologies such as:
- Applied AI
- Digital twins
- Threads
- Machine learning
- Robotics
- Cyber security, and
- Modern manufacturing
CDU will be training the next generation of workplace ready remote pilots to operate safely and effectively in the Northern Territory by soon offering AVI30419 Vocational Education Training Certificate III course in Aviation (remote pilot) for interested students.
Earlier this year CDU said that it would establish a Casuarina campus Industry 4.0 TestLab to develop uncrewed Autonmous Aircraft in collaboration with RMIT, as well as a broader aerospace and defence industry.
The Centre is also working with Aboriginal corporations and land councils in the Northern Territory to deliver on-site training and to develop new methods for distributing information about emerging technologies to these communities.
