Industry Trailblazer News

The nuclear submarine project with AUKUS thrusts Australia into a whole new world where innovation and technology rule. AUKUS is expanding from nuclear with particular emphasis on cyber capabilities, artificial intelligence, quantum technologies and more. 

The AUKUS Forum brings industry and researchers together to form collaborative partnerships in relation to AUKUS initiatives. Sloanebuilt Trailers hosted a wide range of local industry and research partners including the Advanced Manufacturing Research Facility (AMRF) to demonstrate capabilities along with international companies including UK multinational Unipart. Unipart Group Australia delivers technology and supply chain solutions across a range of market sectors, including asset monitoring solutions for precision measurement in extreme environments.

AUKUS, the Australia-United Kingdom-United States Trilateral Security Partnership has opened up unprecedented avenues for advancements in the defence and technology sectors. 

Led by Sloanebuilt’s Managing Director, Fred Marano and Head of Strategy and Senior Management Advisor, Mythili Sarathy, attendees were given a comprehensive guide through the state-of-the-art 9-acre facility. This tour provided exemplary insight into the production and manufacturing capabilities Sloanebuilt has to offer to Australia and for potential to export globally with the AUKUS Forum. From computer-aided design (CAD) tools to complex welding and advanced quality control systems, the site visit highlighted the power of technology in delivering top-tier trailers to meet diverse customer needs.

See https://aukusforum.com

The International Centre for Neuromorphic Systems (ICNS) at Western Sydney University is forming ground-breaking partnerships with top-tier Australian and international institutions and industry leaders, ICNS is driving forward innovations that will shape the future.

In the USA, the organisation is working closely with the US Air Force (USAF) and United States Space Force (USSF) on the use of event-based imagers for Space Situational Awareness and have put the first neuromorphic sensor in space on the International Space Station.

Proud partners of the Royal Australian Air Force (RAAF), the Royal Australian Navy (RAN), the Australian Defence Innovation Hub (DIH), and close partners with the Australian Defence Science Technology Group (DST) Air and Space, Maritime, Cyber, and Sensors and Effectors divisions delivering solutions that enhance Australian Defence and national security capabilities.

Through partnerships with the NSW Department of Primary Industries (DPI), Department of Planning and Environment (DPIE) and the NSW Smart Sensing Network (NSSN) and in collaboration with NeuRonICS Lab in India's leading University, the Indian Institute of Science (IISc), ICNS is developing state-of-the-art low-power acoustic monitoring systems for remote ecological and environmental monitoring with a particular focus on protecting Koalas as part of the NSW Koala Strategy.

ICNS collaborates closely with industry leaders like Intel, Thales, BAE, Raytheon, and Biological Monitoring Services (BMS), as well as with start-up companies such as Neurobuild and Nuvotech, to integrate neuromorphic engineering into practical applications.

See https://www.westernsydney.edu.au/icns

Michael Sharpe, Director of the AUKUS Forum and panel member of the AI Taskforce, is forming collaboration efforts with leading AI research organisations.

The Australian Institute for Machine Learning (AIML) conducts globally competitive research and development in machine learning, artificial intelligence, computer vision and deep learning. 

Based in Adelaide, South Australia, the organisation has more than 160 members and are continuing to grow.

AIML is Australia’s first institute dedicated to research in machine learning. It was formed in early 2018 from the Australian Centre for Visual Technologies (ACVT), with funding from the South Australian state government and the University of Adelaide. ACVT’s many years of success and experience has formed the core of what is now known as AIML. The organisation is ranked in the top six global institutions for computer vision research1, and the top four in Australasia for AI research generally2.

See https://www.adelaide.edu.au/aiml/

1: CSRankings.org , global ranking for computer vision research output 2012–2022, as at 17 April 2023
2: AIRankings.org , for artificial intelligence research capability 2012–2022, as at 17 April 2023

Australian companies are leaders in defence- related robotics technologies. This includes niche, low-cost robotic systems for small and mid-sized applications in land, sea and air domains. 

Australian pioneers are also leveraging Artificial Intelligence (AI) to increase the persistence, range, autonomy and teaming capabilities of defence vehicles. This combination of robotics and AI has created an emergent defence-industry subsector – Robotics, Autonomous Systems and Artificial Intelligence or RASAI.

Thanks to our mining and transport industry, Australian companies are already world leaders
in field robotics. When combined with advanced manufacturing capabilities, this means Australian companies are now creating new RASAI capabilities quickly. 

What’s more, the Australian defence capability budget – worth A$270billion over the next decade – is being channelled towards advanced defence systems. This presents huge opportunities for defence-related RASAI platforms in Australia.

See the report here

AUKUS partners successfully demonstrated a trial of Artificial Intelligence (AI) and Autonomy under the Advanced Capabilities pillar (Pillar II).

On 28 April, a delegation from the Australian Government joined counterparts from the United Kingdom and United States at the Upavon Airfield in the UK to observe the AI trial.

This is the first instance of jointly developed Australian, UK and US AI capability being deployed on coalition autonomous systems for an Intelligence, Surveillance and Reconnaissance (ISR) mission as part of Pillar II.

The trial achieved several world firsts, including live retraining at the edge of models in flight, and the interchange and use of AI models on AUKUS nations' uncrewed aerial vehicles.

AUKUS covers a wide range of defence and security interests, and involves technology sharing for the development of joint capabilities.

The delivery of Advanced Capabilities such as AI and autonomy enables Australia to maintain collective multi-domain awareness, operate seamlessly with partners, and enhance peace, security and prosperity in the Indo-Pacific.

It demonstrates AUKUS partners’ contribution to a stable, peaceful and prosperous Indo-Pacific region, complementing our commitment to ASEAN and regional-led security architecture.

Quotes attributable to Deputy Secretary Strategy, Policy and Industry Group, Hugh Jeffrey:

“As outlined in the Defence Strategic Review, this trial exemplified the determination of AUKUS partners to rapidly translate disruptive technologies into capability.

“Successful collaboration between AUKUS partners brings us ever closer to understanding how we rapidly field robust and trustworthy AI in complex and contested environments.

“In this trial, we demonstrated that AUKUS can deliver a capability that is greater than what any one country can do alone.”

‘Understanding the best use of autonomous systems will ultimately be what separates militaries that capitalise [sic] on the advantage of autonomous systems from those that do not.’

The use of advanced and networked technologies on the battlefield is increasing, and future warfighting is expected to centre on human-machine teams in both the physical and virtual sense. 

Army’s Robotic and Autonomous Systems (RAS) Strategy V2.0 articulates how Army aspires to leverage emerging technology such as Artificial Intelligence (AI), autonomy, and robotics to gain operational advantage. This document builds on the first iteration of the Strategy in 2018 which led to rapid acceleration in both knowledge and demand for RAS across Army.

RAS covers a wide range of interconnected technologies, including uncrewed systems, AI, self-learning machines, and systems more able to make sense of their environment. The increased use of RAS capabilities will continue to evolve the way Army trains and fights – enabling increased tempo, decision-making and reducing risk. In turn, this will afford commanders new opportunities in achieving competitive advantage in some of the most dangerous tasks in the future operating environment. RAS technologies also provide significant opportunities to improve the way in which we learn, adapt and train.

The purpose of the RAS Strategy is to ensure Army can generate and maintain a combat advantage. By optimising the use of RAS capabilities, we can determine the best ways to team with machines and systems. Of particular importance will be systems that can improve the speed and accuracy of decision-making to generate tempo This will require imagination and a clear understanding of risk. Our modernisation processes will need to be more agile to best leverage the velocity and scale of technological developments.

This presents a range of options to enhance, augment, or replace those capabilities currently in service or under development. Army will need to continue managing the productive tension between being simultaneously Ready Now and Future Ready. RAS will create opportunity to influence concepts, doctrine and force design.

This version of Army’s RAS Strategy aims to identify and harness emerging opportunities through an applied focus that emphasises a ‘learn by doing’ approach, taps the knowledge, skills and potential of our people in partnership with industry, academia, allies and partners.

LTGEN Simon Stuart, AO, DSC
Chief of Army