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PODCAST: Aussie start-up providing leading edge autonomous maritime capability – Robert Dane, OCIUS, and Daniel Dent, Thales

PODCAST: Aussie start-up providing leading edge autonomous maritime capability – Robert Dane, OCIUS, and Daniel Dent, Thales

Australias defence industry start-up ecosystem is steadily growing with a number of stand out performers designing, building and testing leading-edge capabilities. In this podcast, Robert Dane, CEO of OCIUS, and Daniel Dent, research and development projects manager, underwater systems, Thales Australia, join host Phil Tarrant to discuss the growing role of Australia’s defence industry start-ups in providing a fundamental input to capability.

Australias defence industry start-up ecosystem is steadily growing with a number of stand out performers designing, building and testing leading-edge capabilities. In this podcast, Robert Dane, CEO of OCIUS, and Daniel Dent, research and development projects manager, underwater systems, Thales Australia, join host Phil Tarrant to discuss the growing role of Australia’s defence industry start-ups in providing a fundamental input to capability.

Robert Dane, chief executive and founder of NSW business OCIUS Technology, and Daniel Dent, research and development projects manager, underwater systems, Thales Australia, join host Phil Tarrant to discuss the potential for unmanned surface vessels (USVs) in the defence space and how the technology is continuing to expand to play a key role in filling capability gaps.

During this podcast, Dane and Dent discuss the increasingly powerful role of autonomous systems like the OCIUS Bluebottle USV system will play in the future battlespace, as independent surveillance sensors for naval task groups and broader maritime surveillance operations. 

The pair will also briefly discuss how the autonomous data gathering and communications platform offers a unique solar sail, continuous and wide coverage, reduced operational costs and harvests all the weather on the ocean – the sun, the wind and the waves – so it can advance under all conditions and can remain at sea for months at a time.

Dane and Dent will focus on the maximising the use of the Defence Innovation Hub Grants and the role government support plays in helping the nation’s emerging defence industry start-ups transition their ideas from concept to implementation. 

Finally, Dane and Dent will discuss the role global prime Thales has played in helping bring its unique autonomous system and ASW capabilities to supporting the development of this next-generation capability package.

Enjoy the podcast, 

The Defence Connect team

Stephen Kuper

Stephen Kuper

Steve has an extensive career across government, defence industry and advocacy, having previously worked for cabinet ministers at both Federal and State levels.

Listen to previous episodes of the Defence Connect podcast:

Episode 413: PODCAST: Combating misinformation, with ADIA Excellence Award winner Dr Marian-Andrei Rizoiu
Episode 412: PODCAST: Unpacking the concept of the ‘Balanced Fleet’, with Jennifer Parker, ANU National Security College
Episode 411: PODCAST: Digital defence infrastructure, with former US Special Operations Command director of networks and services, Colonel (ret’d) Joseph M Pishock
Episode 410: SPOTLIGHT: Securing leading talent in the defence industry, with Shelley Willsmore and Miranda Van Hooff
Episode 409: PODCAST: Government commitment to defence based on considered, direct action, with Meryl Swanson MP
Episode 408: PODCAST: Improving ICT Hardware Sustainment essential to the future of Defence and National Security by Nick Asscher and Bill Freeman, Touchpoint
Episode 407: PODCAST: Opposition Defence team scathing of government’s commitment to Defence and defence industry
Episode 406: PODCAST: The lead up to Indo Pacific 2023
Episode 405: PODCAST: Military aircraft news around the world, with the Australian Aviation editor Adam Thorn
Episode 404: PODCAST: The lingering impact of Defence of Australia in our defence policy, with the Hon Kim Beazley AC

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