Fleet Space’s Centauri satellite made voice capable in orbit

Defence, Manufacturing News, Technology

Nanosatellite manufacturer Fleet Space Technologies has demonstrated satellite-enabled Push-to-Talk (PTT) capabilities for the Australian Defence Force – Joint Capabilities Group as part of its ASCEND2LEO programme. The demonstration was enabled on its Centauri-4 satellite in-orbit via remotely delivered software derived from the ‘Beagle’ communications waveform, developed under projects funded by the SmartSat Cooperative Research Centre.…

Volvo and Queensland green light building electric trucks in Queensland

Manufacturing News, Technology

Volvo trucks has announced it ‘can now be made reality’ for the company to manufacture battery electric trucks at its facility in Wacol, Queensland. The announcement came as the Queensland government released a Zero Emission Heavy Vehicle Network Map (State-Controlled Roads) where battery electric vehicles may travel in future as Australia decarbonises. Queensland is the…

Many not prepared for Cyber Attack – webinar March 19

Manufacturing News, Technology

Manufacturers have been subjected to a lot of fearmongering about the perils of cyber attack. But, according to Michael Murphy, Head of Operational Technology and Critical Infrastructure APAC at cyber security solutions, hardware and services company Fortinet: “The threat landscape is very real.” And many Australian companies are neither adequately protected nor do they have…

A light approach to more dexterous robots

Awards, Podcast

It’s the final day to nominate for this title’s Australia’s 50 Most Innovative Manufacturers list. As we prepare to pass things along to our panel of expert judges, we take a look at Contactile. Brent Balinski speaks to the sensor specialist’s co-founder Dr Heba Khamis. Maybe it was palletising, machine tending or lifting heavy workpieces.…

MicroTau selected for US Air Force trials of its fuel-saving sharkskin 

Defence, Manufacturing News

Sydney-based aerospace company MicroTau, which has designed specialised polymer riblet films for aircraft to increase fuel efficiency, has been selected by the United States’ Department of Defense (DoD) for flight testing of its product. According to a statement from the Australian company on Friday, it was selected in response to the Defense Innovation Unit’s (DIU)…

Carbonix drones fly ‘out of sight’ to survey power network

Manufacturing News, Technology

Drone manufacturer and solutions provider Carbonix has flown its drones Beyond Visual Line of Sight (BVLoS), completing a mission with SA Power Networks inspecting 150km of powerlines in remote South Australia. The Civil Aviation Safety Authority (CASA) approved BVLoS mission paves the way for Carbonix’s drones to inspect South Australia’s vast electricity distribution network of…