The Australian Government is looking to develop a piece of wearable equipment, dubbed the ‘Fight Recorder’, for military personnel that will both capture data on the battlefield, and act as an emergency beacon to reduce the time taken to reach and treat battlefield casualties.
“Survival rates for battlefield casualties are closely tied to response times and the Fight Recorder will enable Defence to quickly locate and treat casualties,” said Minister for Defence Industry Christopher Pyne.
“In addition to serving as a location beacon, the data captured by the Fight Recorder could be used to inform the design and performance of soldier equipment and protective wear."
He said Adelaide-based telecommunications company Myriota and New Zealand-based wearable technology company IMeasureU were selected to develop the Fight Recorder from 47 industry and university applicants from across Australia and New Zealand.
“Defence will work closely with these companies to help deliver this world-first innovation," the Minister said.
“Once again our local small and medium enterprises have demonstrated they are well placed to deliver Defence innovation.”
When fully developed, the Fight Recorder could provide benefits in other physically demanding occupations including emergency services and law enforcement.
The two industry partners will receive $700,000 from the Next Generation Technologies Fund which launched in March this year, to fully develop this product.
The Fund complements the Defence Innovation Hub launched last year, as the core of the new Defence Innovation System outlined in the Defence Industry Policy Statement. These two signature innovation research and development programs, together with the Centre for Defence Industry Capability, are part of the Government’s $1.6 billion commitment to grow Australia's defence industry and innovation sector.
[An Australian Army soldier provides security as a US Army Chinook helicopter lifts off from the Afghan National Army Officer Academy in Kabul, Afghanistan. Photo: Ricky Fuller/Dept of Defence]