How drone submarines are turning the seabed into a future battlefield

By Adam Bartley, RMIT University and Matthew Warren, RMIT University A 12-tonne fishing boat weighs anchor three kilometres off the port of Adelaide. A small crew huddles over a miniature submarine, activates the controls, primes the explosives, and releases it into the water. The underwater drone uses sensors and sonar to navigate towards its pre-programmed…

NIOA produces first Boxer armoured vehicle ammunition

Queensland munitions manufacturer NIOA has begun production of 30mm ammunition for the Army’s next-generation armoured Boxer combat reconnaissance (CRV) vehicle, marking a new high for munitions manufacturing in Australia. The company will produce 40,000 rounds of medium calibre training ammunition at the Commonwealth Government-owned NIOA-operated plant in Benalla, Victoria for the eight-wheeled Boxer, which is…

Borumba pumped hydro moves to next development stage

Queensland clean energy project, the $14.2b Borumba Pumped Hydro Energy Storage, has hit a milestone with the project declared a coordinated project by the Coordinator-General. Declaration means a rigorous assessment of social, economic and environmental matters can begin on the project being developed by Queensland Hydro. Borumba involves building a new upper reservoir, as well…

Visual simulation R&D sites at Tonsley Innovation district

Visual simulation companies One World LED and Sportal will consolidate their national and international research and development capabilities into new premises at Tonsley Innovation District in Adelaide joining other companies such as Micro-X, Zeiss, Siemens and Sage Automation in the former car making site. The companies research, design and engineer custom LED technology in Adelaide,…

Guidelines available ahead of Queensland Manufacturing Energy Efficiency Grant applications opening

Guidelines are available for the Queensland government’s Manufacturing Energy Efficiency Grants (MEEG) ahead of applications opening on October 23.  Grants provide matched grant funding of between $5,000 and $25,000 for equipment or processes to decrease energy use or carbon dioxide emissions, with project needing to demonstrate a 10 per cent reduction in either. In a…

Site may have been selected for Australian-first food and beverage precinct

A development application has been submitted to Sunshine Coast Council for the Turbine Precinct food and beverage precinct, according to a report on a local news website. According to Turbine’s website, the completed site will be “Australia’s first purpose built, end-to-end food and beverage manufacturing and education precinct” and is “expected to be operational March…