April 9, 2014

UOW research keeping soldiers safe on the front line

State-of-the-art robotic welding and fabrication methods developed at UOW are playing a vital role in keeping Australia’s Defence personnel safe.

UOW’s contribution to the collaborative research organisation, the Defence Materials Technology Centre (DMTC), was recognised at a ceremony this week to commemorate the 2013 Eureka Prize for Outstanding Science in Safeguarding Australia.

The DMTC Armour Applications Program was awarded the 2013 prize for their contributions to safety and performance through advancing material and manufacturing techniques. 

With the recent announcement of ongoing support by the Federal Government for DMTC beyond its initial term, UOW is well placed to maintain and grow its research and international recognition in research for defence.

DMTC CEO Dr Mark Hodge said UOW’s expertise was critical in aiding soldier protection by balancing the vital links between the design of amour and protective equipment, high-performance materials and manufacturing methods. 

“[Notorious bushranger] Ned Kelly was well protected with his heavy metal helmet and body armour, but he couldn’t move very well,” Dr Hodge said.

“It’s the soldiers with their lives on the line. Our job is to provide them with protection and send them out ‘beyond the wire’ as the saying goes, making sure they’ve got the confidence in the equipment and know they don’t have to worry about their protection and focus on their mission.”

UOW has been working with other DMTC partners including Thales Australia in developing the Bushmaster armoured personnel carrier.

To date there has not been a single fatality in a Bushmaster despite numerous attacks on troops in Afghanistan. 

Dr Hodge said UOW was well placed to apply its research and development capabilities and expertise to future Defence projects including the design and construction of new naval craft in coming years.

Professor John Norrish, UOW Professor of Materials Welding and Joining and a Director of DMTC, said over the past 20 years UOW had established a reputation both nationally and internationally in the field of welding science and technology.

He said the Eureka Prize, the ‘Oscars’ of Australian Science, was recognition of the excellence in engineering and scientific research sponsored by DMTC at UOW. 

“The DMTC has sustained and grown this research activity in the past five years and has allowed the incorporation of the strong Applied Automation Group at UOW to produce a world-class activity in robotic fabrication.

“The research has already resulted in implementation of state-of-the-art fabrication technology in the DMTC industry partners but has also fostered substantial progress in the underpinning science.

“The development of a strong research team has also enabled UOW to attract top quality research students and additional research projects from industry and government in Australia and overseas.”