Sypaq’s cardboard drones used in Ukraine

Engineering and systems integration company SYPAQ’s unique cardboard drones are in service in Ukraine, and even took part in a recent bombing raid of Russian airports according to some media reports. The company’s Corvo Precision Payload Delivery System (PPDS) can launch, fly up to 120km and land by itself, delivering supplies or providing a low-cost…

RMIT’s tiny titanium spike breakthrough suggests antimicrobial surfaces “may need to be rethought”

An RMIT University team has shown promising results from insect-inspired “microscale spikes” for titanium implants and other surfaces, demonstrating drug-free anti-bacterial and anti-fungal properties. According to a statement from the university, the features on the “micro-pillared titanium surface pattern” were about the height of a bacteria cell and designed to address drug-resistant “superbugs” which are…

$3 billion to rewire Western Australia

The federal and Western Australian governments have signed a landmark agreement to expand and modernise electricity grids in Perth, the South West and the North West Pilbara region. The Commonwealth-Western Australia Rewiring the Nation deal will bolster WA’s energy security in preparation for increasing use of renewable energy and battery storage. It will be backed…

Government buys sea mines, ‘potentially’ locally assembled

The Australian Defence Force (ADF) has announced it will purchase new, smart sea mines, which will reinvigorate Defence’s maritime mining capability, and are deployable from submarines, ships and aircraft, according to an announcement. Following evaluation of market options last year, Defence selected RWM Italia (pictured) to provide the capability under a multi-million-dollar contract – the…

Weld Australia launches new Manufacturing and Engineering Training Package

Professional body Weld Australia recently launched a new set of educational material, the Manufacturing and Engineering Training Package, delivered online and including 12 welding and fabrication units of competency. According to a statement on Tuesday from Weld Australia, the MEM package is delivered at a “time, place and pace” that suits the student, and “reimagines…

Lockheed Martin chosen for air defence system

The Department of Defence has selected Lockheed Martin Australia (LMA) as the strategic partner to steward AIR6500 Phase 1 (AIR6500-1) – the delivery of a new Joint Air Battle Management System (JABMS). The system will be the architecture at the core of the Australian Defence Force’s future Integrated Air and Missile Defence (IAMD) capability. The…

Innovate to decarbonise agriculture – by David Heard

Green hydrogen company Hiringa Energy and agricultural and pastoral enterprise Sundown Pastoral Co are creating a world’s first Good Earth Cotton farm which will produce its own renewable ammonia and green hydrogen to decarbonise its operations. Here David Heard explains the implications for agriculture and wider industry. As Australia inches closer to our legislative target…