ARCAA is a joint research collaboration between the CSIRO ICT Centre, Autonomous Systems Lab, and the School of Engineering Systems at the Queensland University of Technology. In 2003 the research collaboration was merely a loose agreement to co-supervise PhD students, however from these small beginnings grew ARCAA; a research centre comprising over 40 researchers, engineers, students and support staff and which has attracted over AUD$21M in project funding since 2005. Continue reading about the ARCAA partnership
Research and Development
ARCAA conducts research into all aspects of aviation automation, with a particular research focus on autonomous technologies which support the more efficient and safer utilisation of airspace, and the development of autonomous aircraft and on-board sensor systems for a wide range of commercial applications. A significant milestone for 2007 was the announcement of the Smart Skies Project, a three-year, $10M research project with Boeing Research & Technology and Insitu Pacific. The ongoing success of the project, which formally commenced in early 2008, has placed ARCAA on an international stage, achieving a number of world firsts in the research, development and flight testing of advanced airspace separation management technologies. Since then, ARCAA has continued to grow its research partnerships, working with the CRC for Spatial Information, CRC for Plant Bio Security, Defence Science and Technology Organisation, Airservices Australia, Ergon Energy. Continue reading
Purpose Built Research Facility
Since 2005, ARCAA has maintained an active advocacy role in the unmanned aircraft industry. ARCAA has taken a leading role in addressing the regulatory issues facing the civil Unmanned Aircraft Systems, hosting a number of international workshops, initiating informal industry working groups, and more recently, leading the Australian Aerospace Industry Forum, Certification and Regulation Working Group, sub-committee on UAS.
In 2010, ARCAA moved into a $6M purpose built research facility, based at the Da Vinci Prectinct, at Brisbane Airport. The research facility and specialist equipment, which was funded in part by the Queensland State Government Smart State Research Facilities Fund, provides ARCAA researchers with the tools necessary to remain at the forefront of their field. Continue reading
ARCAA’s Staff and Students
ARCAA continues to attract the top echelon of postdoctoral, postgraduate and masters research students, both nationally and internationally. Currently, ARCAA has 21 full and part time higher research degree students. In addition, ARCAA is often host to international researchers, with 11 students from abroad studying at ARCAA over the 2009/2010 period. Continue reading
UAV Outback Rescue Challenge
In 2007, ARCAA founded the UAV Outback Rescue Challenge. The objective of the Challenge was to promote the UAS industry and to foster the next generation of aviation engineers. The Challenge continues to grow each year, attracting entrants from all around the world. Continue reading on the UAV challenge page
This is but a snapshot of ARCAA, to find out more about the people, the research and our future, please Contact Us or download a copy of our most recent Annual Report.
