Aerospace giant BAE Sytems Australia and defence tech manufacturer EPE have partnered to demonstrate advanced autonomous capabilities in Australia.
The partnership, announced earlier this week at the Land Forces 2022 in Brisbane, will develop autonomous technologies under BAE Systems’ Unmanned Ground Vehicle (UGV) program and will focus on implementing BAE Systems’ advanced vehicle management systems onto UGVs and developing soldier support systems for the Australian Army.
EPE was initially contracted to deliver platform, integration, and engineering support, as well as test facilities using its cutting-edge UGV test and evaluation facilities in southeast Queensland.
BAE Systems’ UGV program, which operates within a multi-domain autonomy architecture, focuses on the integration of UGV mission systems to enable prototyping that will develop certifiable mission systems.
“It’s critical for businesses like ours to collaborate with Australian industry so we can successfully support the ADF and, working with companies such as EPE provides opportunities to work as one team, creating an environment that fosters innovation,” said Andrew Greshman, managing director for defence delivery at BAE Systems Australia.
“Having access to the EPE’s unmanned ground vehicle platform and magnificent test facilities here in South-East Queensland has helped us make significant advances in ground autonomy technology, and we look forward to furthering this work together,” Greshman added.
“It’s been an extremely positive experience working with BAE Systems on a shared pursuit of a multi-domain, collaborative and autonomous robotics for Defence at our MILTECS test and assurance facility,” said EPE Director Innovation and Commercialisation Ben Sorensen.
