DEAKIN University has signed a $5.13 million deal with the federal government to continue developing a highly sophisticated augmented and virtual naval firefighting system for the Australian Defence Force (ADF) in the latest plaudit for the technology created at the university’s Waurn Ponds campus.<\/p>\n
Researchers at Deakin, in partnership with technology companies Kellogg, Brown & Root and Geelong-based FLAIM Systems, will seek to develop an immersive training system for naval firefighting, combining virtual reality and augmented reality with
\nartificial intelligence.<\/p>\n
The FLAIM Trainer created and built by FLAIM Systems works in a similar way to a flight simulator for pilot training but is designed specifically for firefighters.<\/p>\n
It combines virtual reality technology in a helmet with real-life industry standard equipment, such as a fire nozzle, breathing apparatus, hose reel, and automated sense-perception devices such as a fire-proximity heat suit to simulate both the visual and sensory feelings of being in a fire.<\/p>\n
Originally starting at ManuFutures, the university’s Waurn Ponds manufacturing and innovation hub, FLAIM Systems now provide their training in 14 different countries.<\/p>\n
The federal government announced the signing of the contract earlier this week.<\/p>\n
Victorian Senator Sarah Henderson said this contract would build on Deakin\u2019s international reputation for ground-breaking research and excellence.<\/p>\n
\u201cDeakin University has executed more than 165 contracts with the Australian Defence Department, highlighting the important role our region\u2019s institutions can play in driving innovation and generating cutting-edge capability in support of the ADF.<\/p>\n
\u201cThis contract follows the signing of the $1 billion agreement between Hanwha Defense Australia and the Morrison Government to produce howitzers for the Australian Army, cementing our region\u2019s position at the forefront of Australia\u2019s defence industry for decades to come.”<\/p>\n
Minister for Defence Industry Melissa Price said the investment could significantly improve the ADF\u2019s naval firefighting training capability.
\n\u201cDeakin University\u2019s new system will provide the ADF with a more diverse and realistic range of naval firefighting and training options that could significantly improve learning outcomes and safety.<\/p>\n
\u201cThis investment highlights the innovative research and development that Australia\u2019s sovereign industry is capable of producing and exporting.\u201d<\/p>\n
Deakin’s Institute for Intelligent Systems Research and Innovation, also based at the Waurn Ponds campus, was awarded a $2.16 million contract by the federal government\u2019s Defence Innovation Hub in 2017 to demonstrate a next-generation virtual reality hot fire training system for the Royal Australian Navy (RAN).<\/p>\n
The overall project aims to provide the RAN the capability to train firefighters for situations and scenarios that are inherently unsafe and difficult to reproduce, may no longer be possible due to environmental constraints, and incur significant training cost in time, people and assets.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
DEAKIN University has signed a $5.13 million deal with the federal government to continue developing a highly sophisticated augmented and virtual naval firefighting system for the Australian Defence Force (ADF) in the latest plaudit for the technology created at the university’s Waurn Ponds campus. Researchers at Deakin, in partnership with technology companies Kellogg, Brown & […]<\/p>\n