Perth technology company Chironix is collaborating with Defence to develop a robotic command and control system that would enable casualties to be evacuated from the battlefield on an autonomous vehicle.
Defence Industry Minister Melissa Price said the $160,000 agreement with Chironix would enable deployed soldiers to call for supplies or perform other logistical tasks using robots, as well as to examine the use of driverless technology in vehicle convoys across a range of difficult military environments.
“Technological evolution and innovation in land combat and protected vehicle capability is integral to giving Australia a warfighting edge,” Minister Price said.
“A key contributor to this will be the development of a robust, resilient and internationally competitive Australian defence industry.
“It is for that reason that the Morrison Government is proud to partner with Chironix and invest in developing autonomous systems capabilities.
“Our investment helps create a highly skilled workforce and intellectual property that will enable the ongoing and agile evolution of land combat and protected vehicle technologies.”
Chironix is a Perth-based company that develops software for robots for use not only in defence, but across a range of sectors including mining, construction and oil and gas.
Federal Member for Curtin, Celia Hammond MP said the company’s partnership with Defence would help raise WA’s profile in cutting-edge defence research and its local defence industry.
“Chironix is showing just how capable our defence industry is not only here in WA, but right across Australia and across the world,” Ms Hammond continued.
“This sort of technology has the potential to be a game-changer for our soldiers on the front line and I am so impressed that is being developed here in Osborne Park.”
