The Swinburne University of Technology, in collaboration with the Victorian Government’s Higher Education State Investment Fund, is launching an Australian-first Aerostructures Innovation Research Hub (AIR Hub).
Led by Swinburne, the $12 million AIR Hub will to bring together Victoria’s best aerospace research, design and production experts to collaborate with industry on real-world design and manufacturing challenges for the next generation of air mobility.
Speaking at the launch, Swinburne’s Vice-Chancellor and President, Professor Pascale Quester, said the university was privileged to be able to announce the AIR Hub after receiving government backing.
‘This initiative perfectly encapsulates Swinburne’s vision of bringing people and technology together to build a better world. I am very excited by what our experts, working closely with our valued partners, will be able to achieve for the aerospace sector,” Professor Quester said.
‘Working closely with the aerospace industry, AIR Hub will create innovative materials and manufacturing processes for passenger planes, air cargo, as well as the space industry. It will also accelerate electric clean energy vertical take-off and landing air vehicles – or eVTOL– more widely known as ‘flying cars’ or electric helicopters.
‘AIR Hub will deliver a 30-year economic, employment and technology innovation boost for Australia and Victoria, designing and manufacturing lighter, stronger and more competitive aerospace structures to propel Victoria’s aerospace sector as a world leader,’ she said.
AIR Hub will work with industry partners Boeing, Quickstep, CableX, Furnace Engineering, Shoal and Marand Precision Engineering, plus research partners CSIRO, Monash University and Germany’s University of Stuttgart and ARENA 2036.
It will use artificial intelligence, augmented reality, virtual reality, machine learning and collaborative robots to support Australia’s world-leading capabilities to manufacture aerostructures.
Swinburne’s AIR Hub Director, Dr Adriano Di Pietro, said AIR Hub would foster new, highly skilled talent and?upskill the existing workforce?to?increase job opportunities in the aerospace and space sectors for Victorians in the post COVID-19 period.
“AIR Hub will bring researchers and industry together to collaborate on real world problems,’ Dr Di Pietro continued.
‘By using the latest technologies in digitalisation, automation and advanced materials, we will reinforce our industry partners’ position in the global aerospace industry and accelerate innovative technology development.
“This contribution to air mobility is vital to Australia’s future, connecting our people and communities.”
