As Australia’s largest defence industry expo opens in Melbourne, the Advanced Robotics for Manufacturing (ARM) Hub and EM Solutions are celebrating a major milestone in the development of advanced naval defence systems.
Their collaboration, centred around the integration of artificial intelligence (AI), has contributed to a multi-million-dollar naval contract for satellite communications (SATCOM) systems.
The partnership between ARM Hub and EM Solutions has resulted in the creation of a digital twin—a virtual model designed to accelerate the manufacturing process for the Royal Australian Navy’s SATCOM systems, ARM Hub said in a news release.
EM Solutions, known for its cutting-edge work in microwave and radio frequency communication systems, was awarded a $150 million contract to upgrade the Navy’s SATCOM systems on its existing fleet.
The Brisbane-based company, which is showcasing its capabilities at the Land Forces 2024 expo, is tasked with the manufacture, installation, and maintenance of the King Cobra SATCOM terminals.
These terminals are crucial to ensuring the Navy’s vessels maintain continuous communication in all oceanic and weather conditions.
ARM Hub Founder and CEO, Professor Cori Stewart, highlighted the importance of AI in modern manufacturing.
“AI is having a transformative impact on manufacturing. It is giving manufacturers the opportunity to become data-driven businesses that are competitive in the global market,” she said.
Stewart emphasised ARM Hub’s commitment to fostering technological advancement within the Australian manufacturing sector.
“It has been fantastic working with EM Solutions on this challenge. We are excited to support them in delivering cutting-edge communication systems to the Royal Australian Navy,” she added.
The digital twin developed in the project serves as a highly detailed virtual representation of the SATCOM system.
It allows for real-time simulation, monitoring, and optimisation of the manufacturing process, reducing production time.
EM Solutions VP Programmes, John Logan, expressed the significance of the digital twin in improving manufacturing efficiency.
“We approached the ARM Hub to help us scale-up our manufacturing to meet national and international demand,” Logan said.
The King Cobra satellite terminal, consisting of 22,000 individual components, presents a complex manufacturing challenge.
Logan noted that the digital twin has reduced testing times from one month to just seven days.
“This new digital twin replaces our outdated version and leverages open-source software to offer unparalleled accuracy in identifying issues early in the production process,” he said.
