Best of the week — the five most popular stories among readers, March 11 – 15, 2024

What were the five biggest stories of the week? Here’s what visitors to this site were reading.

5) DroneShield awarded $4.3 million order from unnamed US government customer

Drone detection and countermeasure company DroneShield has announced a repeat order of $4.3 million from an undisclosed US government customer.

According to a statement to the ASX on Thursday, the delivery is expected to be complete “over the next 15 days,” using available stock on hand. It is for a number of handheld counter-unmanned aerial systems (C-UAS) solutions.

The unnamed customer had previously purchased “a number of smaller preceding orders” and this is the first material contract with them. Larger orders are expected in the near-term, with the timing and value of these to be shared “as further information becomes available.”

4) Australian space industry: concrete pads and coffees-to-go?

There is a space treaty being proposed in Parliament right now that sounds innocuous, but has the potential of being the biggest speed-bump/handbrake or ‘own goal’ for the Australian space industry, writes Adam Gilmour.

Tabled in Parliament on 28 February, the Technology Safeguards Agreement (TSA) between Australia and the United States essentially allows US rockets and satellites to be launched from Australian launch sites. Its purpose is to protect US launch technologies in Australia, and it comes with many strings attached.

3) Production underway on Alstom’s X’Trapolis 2.0 trains

Production on Victoria’s 25 new six-car X’Trapolis 2.0 has begun at Alstom’s Ballarat factory, the state government has announced, ahead of entry into service on the Craigieburn, Upfield and Frankston lines.

According to a statement from public service minister Gabrielle Williams on Tuesday, the build is supporting up to 150 jobs directly in Ballarat, and as many as 750 throughout the local supply chain.

Assembly and fitout has commenced, according to the announcement, and work “will continue to ramp up in coming months, as more trains move through the upgraded facility in Ballarat.”

2) Raytheon opens defence Centre for Collaboration

Raytheon Australia has opened a new advanced Centre for Collaboration in southeast Queensland, enabling opportunities for greater collaboration between the defence industry and the Australian Defence Force (ADF), according to the company.

The Minister for Defence Industry Pat Conroy (pictured) officially opened the centre, which marks 25 years of investment by Raytheon Australia in developing secure facilities around the country.

Located in Cannon Hill, the Centre for Collaboration supplements the capabilities of the Centre for Joint Integration in Adelaide, the Centre for Engineering in Sydney and the Customer Engagement Centre in Canberra.

1) Volvo and Queensland green light building electric trucks in Queensland

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 fourth state to allow big electric trucks to travel on its roads.

And in case you missed our podcast…

In episode 88 of @AuManufacturing Conversations, Dr Heba Khamis from Contactile tells us about the company’s novel approach to making robots less clumsy, where they’ve seen the most interest from, what pressure sensors on grippers can’t do, and more.

Picture: supplied