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Thales Australia and Swinburne University Technology’s Aerostructures Innovation Research Hub have signed a memorandum of understanding to research next-generation aviation concepts.
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The partnership deepens the existing cooperation between the university and prime contractor.
According to the prime contractor, the memorandum of understanding includes an exploration of broader beyond visual line of sight capabilities which can be used to support cargo delivery and critical infrastructure inspection, urban air mobility such as electrical vertical take-off and landing, and concept of operations for urban vertiports.
The pair will also look toward shaping traditional air traffic management concepts with emerging unmanned air traffic management, with the prime contractor looking to leverage their global experience in aviation to shape these concepts.
Grant Williams, technical director, Thales Australia and New Zealand, explained that the two organisations will be able to tackle the emerging challenges of unmanned air traffic.
“Thales’ collaboration with Swinburne’s AIR Hub is a natural extension to the extensive research and development Thales has achieved globally in advanced air traffic management systems.
“As a world leader in this space, we are able to leverage the extensive knowledge, skills, and expertise we have around the world that has application in emerging opportunities and challenges in the UTM domain.
“This will bring a complete perspective to new modes of operation of ATM and UTM and their future integration.”
Swinburne’s AIR HUB specialises in digitisation, intelligent manufacturing, advanced composite materials, and advanced air operations.
Dr Adriano Di Pietro, director, Swinburne University of Technology’s AIR Hub said that the collaboration will improve autonomous aircraft capability.
“Swinburne’s AIR Hub is delighted to be extending our partnership with global leader Thales to drive the development of next-generation aerostructures and air operations right here in Australia.
“Future autonomy and UTM will play an important role in development of AAM. By working collaboratively, Thales and the AIR Hub will undertake concurrent development, feeding data and findings between aircraft and aerostructures development and the sensory and control systems that will be installed into autonomous aircraft.”
