Queensland funds UAS tech development

27th July 2016 - 09:30 GMT | by The Shephard News Team

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The government of Queensland, Australia, is looking to increase funding to advance UAS development for a number of civil markets, it was announced on 25 July.

Partnerships will be formed with Boeing, Insitu Pacific, Shell’s QGC project, Telstra and regional small to medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) to develop and test UAS technologies. Technologies to be developed include enhanced data analytics tools and an improved airspace situational awareness prototype system that will enable safe UAS operations over a broad area.

End markets for the technology will include environmental management, search and rescue, telecommunications, energy, mining, agriculture and Liquid Natural Gas.

The AUD$1 million in funding is the first investment to be released under the recently announced AUD$10 million Advance Queensland Platform Technology Program, which in turn is part of the Queensland government’s AUD$405 million Advance Queensland initiative. This iniative aims to transform Queensland into a knowledge-based economy and help create the jobs of the future.

Shane Arnott, director of Phantom Works International, Boeing Defence Space and Security, said: 'Boeing is excited to bring our 100 years of aerospace innovation to this important project. Working with the Queensland government and our partners Insitu Pacific, QGC, Telstra and the SMEs, this really is a best-of-Queensland team dedicated to developing technology that can have a truly global impact.'