Published Monday, 19 February, 2007 at 03:32 PM
JOINT STATEMENT
Premier and Minister for Trade
The Honourable Peter Beattie
Minister for State Development, Employment and Industrial Relations
The Honourable John Mickel
PREMIER LAUNCHES COMPETITION TO FLY NEW-AGE AIRCRAFT
Premier Peter Beattie today announced $60,000 in prizes for the first competition of its kind in Australia to design, build and fly pilotless aircrafts.
Mr Beattie said the Australian Research Centre for Aerospace Automation’s inaugural Unmanned Aerial Vehicle (UAV) Challenge – Outback Rescue competition was open to secondary and university students, as well as hobbyists and film makers.
“Competitors will have to design and build a UAV (pilotless aircraft), and put it through its paces in a hypothetical course that will involve dropping off emergency medical supplies to people lost in the bush,” Mr Beattie said.
“While this technology is already used in defence, we are only just starting to explore its everyday potential,” he said. “For example, UAVs could be used in cyclone search and rescue operations, in crop management, or as part of coastal warning systems.
“The competition aims to raise awareness about the underlying technology, stimulate interest in studying it, and getting more people thinking about how it can be used.
“This is this is no longer science fiction, it is real.”
The competition will be held at a special UAV test area at Kingaroy Airport from September 24-27. There are three categories: for Queensland high schools; university students and others; and a prize for the best documentary about a team preparing for the Outback Challenge.
UAVs are aircraft without an onboard pilot that can either be remote-controlled or flown autonomously based on a pre-programmed flight plan. The Queensland Government is contributing $40,000 to the competition.
Mr Beattie said Queensland was already a leader in field with 30% of Australia’s industry now based in the Smart State. Work underway in Queensland includes research, design, flight testing and training in the use of UAVs.
“UAVs are the fastest growing segment in the international aerospace industry, and I see a day in the not-too-distant future when these craft routinely fly our skies,” said the Premier.
“They will be used in traffic and road control, power line maintenance, fisheries and wildlife surveillance, monitoring reef health, a whole range of agricultural uses including stock monitoring, as well as aerial photography, fighting bush fires and crime.”
Queensland Minister for State Development John Mickel said the competition was a fantastic opportunity to showcase the industry in Queensland.
"Not only does it improve public awareness of Queensland's strength in the UAV sector, but through the innovative ideas that will be needed to put together craft for the competition, it has the potential to create new commercial opportunities," Mr Mickel said.
"We talk about the Smart State a lot, but in essence this competition sums up what our vision for Queensland is all about - focusing on leading edge technologies in targeted sectors and creating opportunities for our bright school graduates in high technology areas,” he said.
"Queensland is a serious player in UAV research and development and this challenge proves we are the leaders in Australia.”
The Australian Research Centre for Aerospace Automation is a collaboration between the CSIRO and Queensland University of Technology and it promotes civilian research into the development and commercialisation of UAVs.
The centre has projected its UAV research could be worth $543 million to the Queensland economy in the next 10 years.
In 2005 the Queensland Government announced $3.53 million in Smart State Research Facilities Funding to support the centre’s new $12 million purpose-built facility at the Da Vinci precinct, Brisbane airport, with construction about to start.
For Outback Challenge details, go to www.uavoutbackchallenge.com.au
Monday, February 19, 2007
MEDIA CONTACTS: Premiers Office 3224 4500
Minister’s Office Chris Brown 3224 7349,
Elouise Campion 3224 6784.
Mr Beattie said the Australian Research Centre for Aerospace Automation’s inaugural Unmanned Aerial Vehicle (UAV) Challenge – Outback Rescue competition was open to secondary and university students, as well as hobbyists and film makers.
“Competitors will have to design and build a UAV (pilotless aircraft), and put it through its paces in a hypothetical course that will involve dropping off emergency medical supplies to people lost in the bush,” Mr Beattie said.
“While this technology is already used in defence, we are only just starting to explore its everyday potential,” he said. “For example, UAVs could be used in cyclone search and rescue operations, in crop management, or as part of coastal warning systems.
“The competition aims to raise awareness about the underlying technology, stimulate interest in studying it, and getting more people thinking about how it can be used.
“This is this is no longer science fiction, it is real.”
The competition will be held at a special UAV test area at Kingaroy Airport from September 24-27. There are three categories: for Queensland high schools; university students and others; and a prize for the best documentary about a team preparing for the Outback Challenge.
UAVs are aircraft without an onboard pilot that can either be remote-controlled or flown autonomously based on a pre-programmed flight plan. The Queensland Government is contributing $40,000 to the competition.
Mr Beattie said Queensland was already a leader in field with 30% of Australia’s industry now based in the Smart State. Work underway in Queensland includes research, design, flight testing and training in the use of UAVs.
“UAVs are the fastest growing segment in the international aerospace industry, and I see a day in the not-too-distant future when these craft routinely fly our skies,” said the Premier.
“They will be used in traffic and road control, power line maintenance, fisheries and wildlife surveillance, monitoring reef health, a whole range of agricultural uses including stock monitoring, as well as aerial photography, fighting bush fires and crime.”
Queensland Minister for State Development John Mickel said the competition was a fantastic opportunity to showcase the industry in Queensland.
"Not only does it improve public awareness of Queensland's strength in the UAV sector, but through the innovative ideas that will be needed to put together craft for the competition, it has the potential to create new commercial opportunities," Mr Mickel said.
"We talk about the Smart State a lot, but in essence this competition sums up what our vision for Queensland is all about - focusing on leading edge technologies in targeted sectors and creating opportunities for our bright school graduates in high technology areas,” he said.
"Queensland is a serious player in UAV research and development and this challenge proves we are the leaders in Australia.”
The Australian Research Centre for Aerospace Automation is a collaboration between the CSIRO and Queensland University of Technology and it promotes civilian research into the development and commercialisation of UAVs.
The centre has projected its UAV research could be worth $543 million to the Queensland economy in the next 10 years.
In 2005 the Queensland Government announced $3.53 million in Smart State Research Facilities Funding to support the centre’s new $12 million purpose-built facility at the Da Vinci precinct, Brisbane airport, with construction about to start.
For Outback Challenge details, go to www.uavoutbackchallenge.com.au
Monday, February 19, 2007
MEDIA CONTACTS: Premiers Office 3224 4500
Minister’s Office Chris Brown 3224 7349,
Elouise Campion 3224 6784.