Deakin University’s Centre for Intelligent Systems Research (CISR) has announced a collaboration with US-based systems integration company General Dynamics Information Technology.
The project will take advantage of CISR's expertise in haptic (force feedback) technology and General Dynamics IT’s specialty in rapid graphical training environments, providing capacity for rapid immersive training scenarios across a range of sectors.
Deakin Deputy Vice-Chancellor Professor Lee Astheimer signed the collaborative framework agreement with General Dynamics IT Senior Vice President of the Defense Solutions Division Al Whitmore in Fairfax, Virginia.
“From Deakin’s perspective, General Dynamics IT, which is a business unit of General Dynamics, is a perfect fit for expanding our capabilities in advanced robotics and simulation into an international market,” Astheimer said.
CISR Director Professor Saeid Nahavandi said joint projects would begin with the Haptically-Enabled Hot Fire Trainer program, which was developed for use for the United States and Australian Defence Departments, nuclear industry and firefighters.
The program enables trainees to experience realistic training scenarios in a safe synthetic environment.
"The Hot Fire Trainer can accurately present heat, jet reaction and step-up forces along with sound and visuals to immerse a trainee in a real house, car, boat or aircraft fire,” Professor Nahavandi said.
Victorian Ministry for Industry Lily D’Ambrosio welcomed the agreement saying defence technologies was one of six industries with the potential for extraordinary growth that the government was investing in.
“Our Future Industries Fund will support the sector to grow and create high-skill, high-wage jobs,” said D’Ambrosio.
“We’re committed to supporting innovative technologies for defence, especially as Victoria’s traditional manufacturing base transitions.”