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A new R&D hub has been established to house the development of next-generation aerostructures.
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Swinburne University of Technology has launched an Aerostructures Innovation Research Hub (AIR Hub), supported by $12 million in funding via the Victorian government’s Higher Education State Investment Fund.
AIR Hub is expected to facilitate collaboration between Victoria’s aerospace research, design and manufacturing leaders, working alongside industry to design new air mobility technology.
This is set to include innovative materials and manufacturing processes for passenger planes, air cargo, spacecraft, and electric clean energy vertical take-off and landing vehicles (eVTOL).
“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,” Swinburne’s vice-chancellor and president, Professor Pascale Quester, said at the launch.
“… 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.”
Victorian Minister for Higher Education Gayle Tierney noted the broader benefits for the state of Victoria.
“The new AIR Hub will put Victoria on the world stage through its cutting-edge research and the really valuable partnership between universities, industry and government,” Minister Tierney said.
AIR Hub is expected to leverage artificial intelligence, augmented reality, virtual reality, machine learning and collaborative robots as part of the design and manufacturing process.
“AIR Hub will bring researchers and industry together to collaborate on real-world problems,” Swinburne’s AIR Hub director, Dr Adriano Di Pietro, added.
“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.”
AIR Hub’s research and development activities will be supported by the Swinburne-CSIRO Industry 4.0 Testlab for Composite Additive Manufacturing in Clayton, and the manufacturing sites of key industry partners.
Swinburne’s Victorian Hydrogen Hub (VH2) will also support AIR Hub, supporting the research and development of hydrogen storage on aircraft and eVTOL air vehicles.
The new facility has already sparked interest from industry, with engineering firm Shoal Group exploring opportunities with AIR Hub.
“We congratulate Swinburne on the launch of the AIR Hub, the first of its kind research and innovation hub focussed on aerostructures for both civil and military aircraft,” Michael Waite, CEO at Shoal Group said.
“Our partnership with Swinburne and industry will allow us to explore opportunities around hypersonics, advanced air mobility systems such as electric vertical take-off and landing (eVTOL) aircraft, hydrogen propulsion, Artificial Intelligence (AI) enabled design and analysis and space structures.”
[Related: Lockheed Martin Australia awards SEA 1000 contracts to local firms]
