The Hon Christopher Pyne MP
|
The Hon Steven Ciobo MP
1 Mar 19
Release details
Release type
Related ministers and contacts
The Hon Steven Ciobo MP
Minister for Defence Industry
Media contact
- Ben Dillaway: (02) 6277 7840
- Defence Media: (02) 6127 1999, media@defence.gov.au
Release content
22 November 2018
The Government is investing in innovation to support a smarter and stronger Australian Defence Force (ADF) to keep Australians safe and secure.
Five Australian businesses have been awarded contracts with a combined value of more than $12 million to further develop their innovative technologies to support the ADF.
The latest tranche of investments, funded through the Defence Innovation Hub, demonstrates the Government’s commitment to invest in Australian industry, universities and research organisations to deliver leading-edge capability for Defence.
As part of this investment, Sentient Vision Systems, a small Australian computer vision technology company, has been awarded a $5.5 million contract to explore the development of a land Visual Detection and Ranging (VIDAR) system that utilises electro-optics with a new infra-red capability for low light and night time functionality.
If successful this technology will offer wide-area detection, tracking and classification capability that can be deployed on both manned and unmanned platforms.
The Defence Innovation Hub also signed a $3.2 million contract with Thomas Global to explore development of a next generation, high definition, colour, digital biocular image control unit for use in armoured vehicles.
Established under the Government in 2016, the Defence Innovation Hub accepts proposals on innovations at all stages, from early stage concept exploration and technology demonstration through to advanced prototypes for integration, test and evaluation.
Industry and research organisations are encouraged to submit their innovation proposals through the Defence Innovation Portal at: www.business.gov.au/cdic
Contracts announced today under the Defence Innovation Hub
|
Organisation |
Contract Value |
Description of innovation |
|
Sentient Vision Systems Pty Ltd |
$5.5 million |
To develop a VIDAR system offering wide-area detection, tracking and classification capability that can be deployed on both manned and unmanned platforms. |
|
Thomas Global |
$3.2 million |
To explore development of a next generation, high definition, colour, digital biocular image control unit for armoured vehicle applications. The project aims to develop a prototype digital biocular that would provide the highest resolution, full colour optical viewed display for use in armoured vehicles. |
|
Penten |
$2 million |
The new technology will create decoy radio emissions that are designed to confuse adversaries as to the true location of Army units. |
|
Ocius |
$1.7 million |
To determine the viability of an intelligent command and control network of persistent unmanned surface vessels. This advanced technology has the potential to improve Defence maritime services, such as maritime patrol, mine clearance, environmental monitoring, and search and rescue operations. |
|
Amatek Design |
$288,000 |
To further develop the concept for a heavy lifter quad-copter drone for Army combat service support. If successful, this capability could be used to supplement or replace existing modes of transport, including off-road vehicles, trucks and helicopters. |