Australian Remote Operations for Space and Earth
Unifying Australia’s world leading remote operations capability.
What is AROSE?
Australian Remote Operations for Space and Earth (AROSE) was established to unify Australia’s unique abilities in the space sector and terrestrial remote operations.
Our industry-led consortium is reinforcing Australia’s place as the trusted supplier of remote operations and asset management. AROSE is driving high-impact project execution, technology transition, knowledge exchange, workforce development and the promotion of our national capabilities.
AROSE Principles
Our mission
Drive knowledge exchange across sectors from space-to-ground and ground-to-space.
Build and advocate national capability and develop the future workforce to expand remote operations.
Seed and streamline industry-applied collaboration projects.
Our vision
For Australian firms to be the leading global providers of on and off Earth remote operations.
What is 'Remote Operations'?
Remote operations is the ability to monitor and control things over vast distances often in harsh or high-risk environments.
It comprises all technology, people and processes required to be connected, remotely. That might include operating autonomous fleets of trucks on mine sites, to controlling subsea equipment, to managing life support equipment on Mars. The suite of remote operations technologies enable large-scale operations at a distance with minimal human danger, while providing human insight and oversight.
Case Studies: Remote Operations in Practice
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Humans meet Technology
Case Study /Humans meet Technology
The field of Remote Operations is broad. It encapsulates many processes and technologies around the art of communicating and controlling at a distance, and yet despite our reach to ever increasing levels of automation, the future will remain human-centric.
Humans have creative insight and an ability to learn across a broad range of platforms and problems which has remained unrivalled, thus far, by any piece of software. We have a unique way of understanding the world, no doubt coloured by the fact we observe our universe whilst trying to comprehend our purpose within it.
From the invention of the first telephone in the mid 1800s, to the furthest human object, Voyager 1 – which still sends back packets of data from interstellar space – human beings have evolved alongside technology in order to keep exploring, furthering our reaches into space in an attempt to satisfy our curiosity.
With each leap in human technical ability comes a change in the way we, as a modern society, interact with machines. Remote operations technology has seen the advent of busy airport terminals, automated factories and distanced control centres for mining operations. The technology we develop for space has enabled the development of more advanced processes on Earth, making us more capable, efficient and better able to support large populations in a safe and reliable manner. Importantly, technology will revolutionise the way we do business; not through replacing us, but through the support and thus streamlining of our services, gifting us the time to interact with each other on levels that will improve additively to the quality of our professional outcomes.
Critical technical infrastructure, such as databases and integrated software tools, are the basis from which we can digest, analyse and model the vast amounts of information required to control and manage the systems and tasks for the future. One such inter-relational use for this type of technology was developed for the Undiagnosed Diseases Program in Western Australia (UDP-WA).
Patients (currently children) with rare and sometimes undiagnosed diseases store their files in a Patient Archive, which as well as providing clinicians with access to medical records and summaries of symptoms in the form of collated graphs and tables, can even suggest possible diagnoses for a patient. Algorithms like this one grant clinicians the capability to compare patients against a multitude of others, in order to quickly see patterns where they might arise, and to suggest possible causes that might have otherwise been missed or negated. Healthcare practitioners use this technology as a guide and meet regularly in an Expert Monthly Panel meeting, an initiative by UDP-WA.
The combination of technology-enriched decision-making coupled with the essential collaboration between experts helps ease cognitive stress on clinicians whilst simultaneously boosting their accuracy and certainty in diagnoses. This is an example where technology built for people enables people to better manage for the future workload.
It’s anticipated that the implementation of human-machine cohesive environments will assist pathways to upskill and train for the sustainment of such technology, including how we deliver and share information to provide quick understanding across highly distributed and networked teams. Such capability goes together with the technology needed for remote operations – the art of executing tasks at a distance.
The Future of Work Institute (FoWI), based in Perth, Western Australia, understands this need, and helps people and organisations thrive in the digital age. Employees at the FoWI conduct leading-edge research and translate and disseminate their research through collaborative projects and impact activities. Their world class researchers and staff have a diverse background involving analytics, worker skills and capabilities, work design, human systems integration, and public policy.
The FoWI aims to understand the skills that are needed for the future, how they will be developed, and what organisational systems will enhance or hinder work to optimise the future workplace for creativity, productivity and growth.
As we become better at adopting human technical services into the mainstream, we will become cleverer, and without losing the valuable human insight that enables us to solve problems. In the diverse and highly networked environment of the modern era, technology-enabled solutions will produce synergy between the practical (enhanced terrestrial applications and processes) and the aspirational (the pursuit of scientific discovery) to complete the loop of innovation. Remote operations technology can help us explore the universe and concentrate on the inspirational problems that define us as a species.
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Robotics in Underground Mine Site
Case Study /Robotics in Underground Mine Site
The deserts of Western Australia may be isolated, but they are fertile ground for innovation, engineering activities and solution-based approaches. The field of technology that caters to the daily running of mine sites, specifically the ability to communicate to robots and machinery at a distance, is the field of remote operations. The benefits of remote operations technology were exhibited during a situation that unfolded in the BHP Nickel West drill mine in 2018.
The mine, situated in central Western Australia, developed an over-pressurised pipe far underground in one of the drill holes. As the pressure in the water pipe rose, an exclusion zone was enforced such that only appropriately protected and equipped personnel could enter the area, in turn preventing anyone rectifying the issue. The situation was deemed too dangerous for humans to release the pipe pressure manually, however it needed to be released as soon as possible.
Remote operations technology was employed to help solve the problem. BHP sought the robotics expertise of Woodside, which lead to Woodside teaming up with Deakin University, offering assistance on their functioning robots. Representatives from Deakin and Woodside joined BHP’s Nickel West and Technology teams at the site to resolve the issue. The team also gained assistance from the staff of the University of Texas, Clearpath (Canada) and NASA (Houston JSC), making this a truly global effort and an example of unbounded collaboration.
The Nickel West team applied their local knowledge to ensure the robots could safely work in the underground environment. Work included risk assessments and contingency plans, machine coding and the development of a tailored Wi-Fi system for communications. The machine coding included re-configuring some of the robotics systems, including the addition of health monitoring software. The teams conducted above-ground test runs with a mock-up pipe that mirrored the shape and angle of the pipe underground. They tested a range of tools and equipment on both the Woodside and Deakin robots, determining the best option to be a ‘parrot beak cutter’ attached to the Deakin robot. Luckily the Woodside robot, nicknamed ‘Ripley’, was able to rescue the Deakin robot should it encounter difficulty. The teams then conducted a second test run underground before moving to the exclusion zone.
The team was positioned just outside the tunnel entrance so that all personnel were at a safe distance. The robot itself could be controlled remotely; the first step was to execute the delicate task of manoeuvring the robot around obstacles to get to the pipe. The robot successfully cut the pipe and released the water pressure, battering the robot with water. With the pipe pressure subdued, the task had been completed successfully. Teams then recovered the robot.
This situation demonstrated the ability for BHP, Woodside and Deakin University to work together as a team to conduct and complete a high-risk operation. They did so by utilising specialised technology and employing robotics equipment which could be controlled at a distance, in the interests of safety. The quick response of the vehicle to commands as well as the visual feedback and health-monitoring mechanisms meant that those piloting the robot could ascertain the environment in real-time, increasing the chances for mission success. Less costly reparations could then be made at the drill hole, as well as site recovery. The time frame was just over a week from identifying the issue to it being fixed.
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Exploring with Remote Operations
Case Study /Exploring with Remote Operations
Remote operations technology enables us to communicate with, control and provide oversight for robotics systems at vast distances. Advancements in this technology continually push the boundaries of how far we can explore. Researchers at the University of Western Australia (UWA), within the Faculty of Engineering and Mathematical Sciences, are preparing to test a robot in Antarctica. The robot will have the ability to conduct a series of tests on its watery environment, including searching for signs of life. If successful, it may be deployed on a deep-space mission to Jupiter’s moon, Europa.
The program is being conducted by the Australian Antarctic Program and NASA. The robot itself must survive the pressures and cold temperatures of deep water – and be able to communicate through ice of potentially up to 20 kilometres thick. Figuring out how to drill through that much ice marks a unique challenge for engineers and scientists.
The problem highlights one of the quintessential dilemmas of space exploration: that no one quite knows what the landscape will be like when we get there. Of course, by ‘we’, scientists mean humans that are vicariously present through the implementation of robots. If the robots encounter unpredicted terrain, they must possess the ability to adapt and be flexible (human traits), which will also require state-of-the-art software and an automatic capability to ‘think’. The UWA robot itself is a buoyant rover with two independent wheels to manoeuvre along the underside of the ice. This is an example of how the unique operating environment demands a novel design, creating knowledge, as we continue to disrupt conventional thinking around the way we design for purpose.
Our beloved robots carry the human spirit across the solar system, to inhabitable locations. Particular robots spring to mind, such as the likes of Pathfinder and Curiosity on Mars, coupled with discoveries from the New Horizons spacecraft which allowed us to see Pluto in all its distant majesty. They bring with them the crucial equipment to communicate back to Earth. The ability for them to do so is mission-critical; humans cannot learn about our solar system without robust and reliable communications.
If we expand our definition of robotics, to that of remote operations, we now consider the possibility of human-inhabited outposts and someday, colonies on the Moon and Mars. The methods by which we attend to these platforms is provided by technology directly relating to the field of remote operations. The challenge of the next decade will be to aggregate the suite of technologies that enable the control, management and logistics of these platforms (including habitats, infrastructure, and resourcing sites) to give humans a sustained presence beyond Earth.
The technology developed to achieve these goals will help us improve industrial processes on Earth and enrich our quality of life with the expertise we gain along the way. Likewise, the technology we create for Earth processes may be relevant to our aspirations in space. Space engineering requires precision and innovation; the harsh environments of space create some of the toughest challenges, requiring us to build upon what we thought of as previously possible.
Bringing value to your organisation
Learn how you and your organisation can become involved as we grow to shape the future of Australia’s expertise in remote operations.
AROSE will diversify the economy through collaboration. To build on our capacity for economic development, we’re strengthening alliances between end users, industry, prime service providers, small to medium enterprise, academia and government.
AROSE recognises the power of collaboration. As an AROSE member, you will have access to our high-impact projects, our experts and our direction in enabling the uptake of remote operations technology across industries for on-Earth and Space-based application.
Become a member
Why our members have chosen to join AROSE
Woodside
Woodside is a leader in remote operations in WA, having operated offshore facilities remotely for a number of years and collaborated with other industry partners and government agencies to further develop our capabilities.
Nova Systems
Nova Systems specialises in taming complexity. Through collaboration and leveraging cutting-edge technologies we are able to solve complex challenges of today and those awaiting us over the horizon in the field of remote operations.
Fugro
Fugro is the world's leading Geo-Data specialist, both as an integrity services provider and specialist in Site Characterisation. Operating across a diverse portfolio of industries, we have the expertise to build upon Australia’s capability in the field of remote operations.
Curtin University
Our mission is to change minds, lives and the world through leadership, innovation and excellence in teaching and research. Working with AROSE and our industry partners, we will help make the space industry a key element of the WA economy in the 21st century.
University of Western Australia
We are ideally situated to provide cutting-edge thinking on a global scale. UWA is in the top 100 universities internationally and is a founding member of AROSE. The university has more than 70 research centres providing world-leading expertise to global partners.
Become a member
Latest news, events and press releases
AROSE Space & Earth Remote Operations HQ Opens in Perth
The Australian Remote Operations for Space and Earth (AROSE) consortium has opened their head office in Perth, with help from Western Australia’s Deputy Premier and Minister for Science, the Hon. Roger Cook MLA. Industry leaders and members of Australia’s burgeoning international Space community also joined the celebration, acknowledging this significant milestone for both AROSE and Australia.
AROSE Co-founder, Russell Potapinski got things underway recalling the inspiration behind the founding of AROSE, which only marked its first birthday in February of this year.
Inaugural AROSE CEO, Ms Leanne Cunnold, then spoke about the valuable role played by Australian Remote Operations around the world, as well as its future potential in Space.
“Australia’s expertise in Remote Operations is highly respected and in demand by international Space agencies. AROSE is already being called upon to assist in using this expertise to solve the challenges future missions to the Moon and beyond will face,” Ms Cunnold said.
“We need to grab hold of this opportunity now and cement Australia’s place as the trusted leader and supplier of Remote Operations in Space and on Earth. If Australia doesn’t seize this moment, others will, and they will be the future disruptors.”
Participation in the Space sector also has down-to-Earth benefits, with Minister Cook acknowledging the incredible opportunity AROSE represents.
“With AROSE headquartered in WA, imagine the possibilities for the growth of our industries and for our young people who aspire to future careers in STEM,” Minister Cook said.
“This is an exciting time for WA. Science sits at the forefront of the WA government’s agenda for jobs, state development and diversification of our economy. We are making strategic investments, like supporting the establishment of AROSE, to harness the energy and talent we have in WA for a strong, resilient future.”
The establishment of AROSE and the new Head Office in Perth, has been made possible with the support of the WA government, through the Department of Jobs, Tourism, Science and Innovation.
The AROSE head office, located on St George’s Terrace in Perth, will support the work of the consortium across Australia, establishing a world-leading hub for Australia’s Remote Operations capability, for both Earth and Space applications.
AROSE appoints Stephen McIntosh, former Rio Tinto Group Executive for Growth and Innovation, to Board of Directors
AROSE has appointed Stephen McIntosh, former Rio Tinto Group Executive for Growth and Innovation, to its Board of Directors.
A geophysicist by training, Stephen has led teams working across every part of the mining value chain for more than 30 years. He also has a long and deep association with academia and research organisations.
AROSE Chair, David Flanagan AM CitWA, announced the Board appointment saying:
“With a successful career spanning more than three decades in the resources sector, Stephen brings to AROSE unique insights into harnessing technology and innovation, and the transformative power of digital and data science.”
“Stephen’s knowledge and insights, combined with a deep understanding of technology development and deployment, will be invaluable reference points for AROSE as we work to transform industries through Remote Operations.”
“As AROSE also works to secure Australia’s place in the international Space sector, Stephen’s expertise will help us translate and transfer our Remote Operations capabilities on Earth, for applications in Space.”
Stephen retired from Rio Tinto at the end of 2020 after more than 33 years with the group. In his final role as Group Executive for Growth and Innovation, Stephen oversaw staff and operations in more than 30 countries. His remit covered most of Rio Tinto’s global technical functions such as exploration, construction, technical services, Information Technology, data science, robotics and automation, and Research and Development.
The Board and staff of AROSE welcome Stephen and look forward to the contribution he can make toward the AROSE vision of unifying Australia’s remote operations capabilities for Space and Earth applications.
AROSE welcomes new member QUT
AROSE warmly welcomes new consortium member QUT (Queensland University of Technology); a collaborative Australian research university.
QUT brings to the AROSE consortium world-class expertise in disciplines required to design and build planetary rovers, including robotics, planetary materials and energy sciences.
This expertise is currently in use as part of NASA’s Perseverance Rover mission on Mars, where a group of QUT researchers and students are working with NASA’s Jet Propulsion Laboratory (JPL) to guide the rover on its key astrobiology task of seeking signs of ancient life on Mars.
QUT’s Dr David Flannery is a member of the Perseverance science team, a Long-Term Planner for the mission, and a Co-Investigator of a rock chemistry instrument (PIXL) aboard the rover.
“With this mission, there is the opportunity to answer the profound question of whether life existed elsewhere in our solar system,” Dr Flannery said.
QUT hopes to translate its terrestrial and space heritage to new projects with AROSE.
Acting Director of the QUT Centre for Robotics, Professor Michael Milford, said: “Space and robotics are both incredibly exciting, as is the opportunity to combine both together.
“We’re looking forward to working with the AROSE consortium to develop new technologies that benefit both space and terrestrial applications.”
QUT’s robotic solutions have also helped address key global challenges. Rangerbot, for instance, is a multifunction underwater robot used in world-leading research projects to facilitate coral restoration and control marine pests.
AROSE CEO, Leanne Cunnold, welcomed the university to AROSE saying: “QUT’s research expertise and focus on collaboration to solve challenges faced across the globe and into Space, completely aligns with the AROSE mission.
“Working together, we can harness our collective strengths and use our technologies, systems and models to benefit Earth with real-world remote operations solutions to global problems, while setting our sights on the Moon and beyond, to grow Australia’s space future.”
Fleet Space Technologies, a nanosatellite manufacturer and Industrial IoT start-up, joins AROSE
AROSE is delighted to welcome new member Fleet Space Technologies; a South Australian based nanosatellite manufacturer and Industrial Internet of Things (IoT) start-up.
Fleet Space was founded in 2015 with a mission to build Earth’s ‘digital nervous system’ and help power the Industrial IoT revolution using its planned constellation of nanosatellites in Low Earth Orbit.
Since its founding, Fleet Space has launched four commercial nanosatellites, with a fifth and sixth planned for launch in 2021.
In December 2020, Fleet Space also announced its Seven Sisters Mission to support NASA’s Artemis Program, using their technology to search for accessible water and resources on the Moon.
Fleet Space’s technology is also being applied across a range of projects on Earth, in sectors ranging from energy and utilities to mining.
In welcoming Fleet Space to AROSE, CEO Leanne Cunnold said:
“Like AROSE, the Fleet Space team recognise how space-to-ground and ground-to-space technology can transform industries, making them more efficient and better for our environment.”
“Partnering with Fleet Space, we hope to pioneer solutions for exploring and using resources here on Earth, and into Space, with minimal invasive impact.”
Fleet Space CEO, Flavia Tata Nardini acknowledged the benefits of joining AROSE, saying:
“Remote operations and global communications are natural allies.”
"Together, we have the ability to drive Australia’s greatest strengths to new heights on the Earth, the Moon and Mars.”
Five miniature satellites headed for Space, powered by AROSE-Curtin collaboration
Five miniature satellites scheduled for launch in the coming year, will be propelled into Space through the power of collaboration, as the Australian Remote Operations for Space and Earth (AROSE) consortium, signs an agreement to support Curtin University’s Binar Space Program.
The Binar Space Program (named from the Noongar word for fireball or shooting star) is a major initiative of Curtin’s Space Science Technology Centre (SSTC), with the Western Australian government announcing it will invest $500,000 in the program.
On announcing the state government’s funding, Innovation and ICT Minister Dave Kelly said:
"This new funding will support Curtin University's mission to launch five Binar CubeSats to space, and cement WA's position as the nation's leader in the development and operation of CubeSats in space.”
As part of the Binar Program, researchers and students have designed and built the Binar CubeSat.
This miniature satellite is no bigger than a loaf of bread, and has been engineered to integrate all the satellite’s required systems on a single circuit board, about the size of a sandwich. This satellite bus is a first of its kind in Australia, making the Binar CubeSat an efficient and highly cost-effective solution for sending technology into Space.
AROSE will support the ongoing development of the Binar CubeSat by providing funding and industry-led engineering expertise through its consortium members, as part of the agreement signed with Curtin.
Five Binar CubeSats are scheduled to be launched to Space in 2021-2022, including Australia’s first homegrown satellite constellation, with ongoing experiments and testing of their remote capabilities to be conducted once they are in orbit.
“Being able to demonstrate that these CubeSats can be controlled and used remotely is of particular pertinence to AROSE and our vision for Australia’s remote operations and Space industries,” said AROSE CEO, Leanne Cunnold.
“Having cost-effective space technology solutions like the Binar CubeSats will open the doors for more businesses, especially small and medium sized businesses, to apply this technology to their own industries and reap the benefits of being able to remotely operate or monitor their day-to-day activities here on Earth.”
“Whether it’s being able to assess and act immediately on wear and tear of machinery parts and equipment operated in remote locations, or being able to track in real-time energy and resource usage data across processes and supply chains, there are many applications where Space technology like this can transform our industries, making them safer, cleaner, more reliable, effective and efficient.”
Ms Cunnold also noted the long-term importance and significance of the Binar Program, with funding provided by the State government also contributing to a dedicated Binar CubeSat STEM and outreach program, which will provide students with the opportunity to develop technology to be flown and operated in Space.
“The Binar Space Program will not only launch CubeSats to Space, it will also be a launching pad for Australia’s next generation of scientists and our future workforce “ Ms Cunnold said.
“AROSE is proud to collaborate with Curtin on the Binar Space Program and work towards an exciting future for Australia in remote operations and Space.”
To find out more about the Binar Space Program visit https://www.binarspace.com
World-leading Space robotics and technology company, MDA, joins AROSE
AROSE welcomes internationally renowned Space and Earth-based robotics and technology company, MDA, as a member of the AROSE consortium.
Founded in 1969, Canadian-based MDA is a world leader in the development, delivery, and remote operations of advanced robotics and sensors systems.
MDA’s Space flight heritage includes 90 robotic missions on NASA’s Space Shuttle fleet for over 30 years, plus 20 years of International Space Station robotic assembly and maintenance operations.
In 2020, MDA was also contracted to build Canadarm3, a next-generation smart robotic arm, for NASA’s Artemis (Earth to Moon) program.
AROSE CEO, Leanne Cunnold, welcomed this new membership and the opportunity to develop a joint AROSE-MDA Space Robotics project.
“Working with an iconic company like MDA and being able to tap into their wealth of knowledge and expertise has immeasurable value for AROSE as we foster and develop Australian Space industry talent, technology and capabilities,” she said.
“Partnerships like this take us one step closer to achieving the AROSE vision and seeing more Australian flags on missions sent to the Moon, Mars and beyond.”
MDA Vice President for Robotics and Space Operations, Tim Kopra, also recognised the importance of this collaboration with AROSE and Australia’s industrial leaders, saying:
“We are honoured to join AROSE in this important partnership that couples MDA’s space robotics capabilities with Australia’s recognised leadership in remote industrial operations.”
"As the opportunities within the space sector continue to expand, the AROSE consortium will be perfectly positioned to leverage our combined technology, operations, and industry expertise."
"We look forward to working with this incredible team. "
Ms Leanne Cunnold appointed CEO of AROSE
AROSE, is proud to announce the appointment of Ms Leanne Cunnold to the position of Chief Executive Officer; a significant milestone as the consortium forges ahead with its vision for Australian firms to be the leading global providers of on and off Earth remote operations.
Ms Cunnold joins AROSE following an international career spanning 25 years delivering highly complex and reliable technology solutions across industry, universities and government.
Before joining AROSE, Ms Cunnold held executive leadership positions with APC and Schneider Electric in Japan, Singapore, Boston and Hong Kong. Her diverse experience over this period included commercial operations, product marketing, strategy, M&A, and digital and strategic transformations.
In announcing Ms Cunnold’s appointment, AROSE Chair, David Flanagan AM said:
“We are excited to have Leanne join AROSE and lead us in the next strategic stages of our development.”
Leanne brings high calibre leadership experience and an impressive record of achievement in delivering business solutions and expansion across a vast array of industries, from start-ups to complex multinational environments.
David Flanagan AM
“This experience means Leanne is uniquely placed to sustain cross industry technology benefits for all participants, which will be key to increasing the value AROSE is able to deliver to our members and industry.”
In accepting her appointment, Ms Cunnold said:
"I’ve always had a passion for creating and developing new business opportunities, and I don’t think they come more exciting than this one with AROSE. I’m thrilled to be joining AROSE at this pivotal moment for Australia’s remote operations and Space sectors, where there is immense potential for Australian business, especially in diversifying our regional areas and industries."
Ms Cunnold went on to say that Australia’s remote operations capabilities are already respected and recognised globally for their potential to provide solutions for Space exploration and missions.
With remote operations at the core, Australia can take hold of this opportunity to use our knowledge, skillset and experience to do something remarkable; effecting real and positive change for how we live and use our resources here on Earth, and for how we explore the Moon, Mars and beyond.
Leanne cunnold
"I’m also very optimistic about the possibilities for our future generations. Through AROSE we have the chance to deliver projects that will not only inspire our children to engage in STEM and dream big, but also offer practical solutions for our communities and the next generation workforce through the creation of new jobs and opportunities in a respected and active Australian Space industry."
Ms Cunnold will be based in AROSE’s Perth head office.
AROSE welcomes new leadership team members.
AROSE continues to establish its core leadership team with the appointment of Communications Director, Honor Iosif, and Finance and Governance Officer, Guy Marchesani.
Honor Iosif joins AROSE with over 14 years’ Public Relations experience, working across government agencies, education institutions and numerous not-for-profit organisations, in both Australia and the USA.
Guy Marchesani is a Chartered Accountant and experienced senior Finance Manager with over 27 years’ experience in the Oil and Gas industry.
Both Honor and Guy will be based at the AROSE head office in Perth, where they were welcomed on behalf of the AROSE Board by Chair, David Flanagan AM.
As part of his welcome, David said:
“These leadership appointments are another key step in the development of AROSE, with everyone on the Board very excited to see our Perth office growing and taking shape.”
“We look forward to working with Honor and Guy to further our mission to build Australian Remote Operations capability around the world and into space.”
Honor and Guy join Collaboration Systems Lead, Zac Stafford, whose role is contributed in-kind by AROSE member Woodside.
Foundations laid for acceleration of growth into the Space Sector
Hon Karen Andrews announces Future Technologies funding for AROSE
AROSE launches Australia into new frontier of innovation
Message from Dr Megan Clark AC, Head of the Australian Space Agency
“Congratulations to AROSE on your formal opening.
Let me commend everyone who has been associated with this effort of bringing together industry with researchers with such an exciting vision.
Robotics and automation on earth and in space is one of the Australia Civil Space Priorities. I really look forward to hearing some of the exciting developments that will come from AROSE and wish you well in your future endeavours.”
To view and share the video message please visit AROSE on LinkedIn.
Join us at the 9th Australian Space Forum in Adelaide
Held in Adelaide, South Australia on Wednesday 19 February 2020 at the Adelaide Convention Centre, AROSE will be located in the Exhibition Hall at the Australian Space Agency Expo Booth.
Supported by the Australian Space Agency and SmartSat CRC, this biannual event provides the perfect opportunity to stimulate ideas, share information about emerging technologies and discuss industry trends.
AROSE welcomes the occasion to connect and advance Australia’s Remote Operations Industry with the space sector.
AROSE projects
Remote Operations Critical Reports
Remote Operations Critical Reports
The objective of AROSE is to take Australian world-leading technology and, through multi-lateral collaboration, find new applications both in space and on earth. Already, we have seen terrestrial sectors such as energy, mining, agriculture, defence and space having reaped benefits from bi-lateral collaboration.
AROSE will undertake an in-depth national review of advanced technology and capabilities in the field of remote operations as applicable to the resource industry and space industry. AROSE will develop an independent technology and capability baseline report to catalyse cross-industry growth in remote operations and ready Australian business for the emerging global markets for this technology.
The Australian Remote Operations Capability (AROC) Report may be used as the basis for future development of roadmaps and technology transfers across industries. This project will identify core technology threads across terrestrial and off-earth domains highlighting commonality which can be exploited to drive cross-industry value.
In addition to the AROC Report, AROSE has highlighted the need for a remote operations technical roadmap for space missions. The AROC report will form a pillar of research and a foundation upon which to ascertain the current national capabilities across a diverse array of industry sectors, in order to outline a path for Australia to become the chosen supplier of remote operations technology and to become a global player in Space.
For the AROC Report, AROSE will review current technology leveraged by the resource industry in order to unlock potential for space and future terrestrial applications.
The intangible benefits of this project are inherent in how this report can be used. The networking and collaboration required in conducting the research, the opportunities that will arise from the work, and the overall knowledge gained by those involved will be of direct benefit to industry in providing a comprehensive overview of national capability in the field of remote operations.
The report and the body of work will:
- Increase understanding of the current state of capability to identify areas to leverage, including enhancing business models.
- Increase and improve cross-sector collaboration.
- Identify areas of improvement and leverage other industries to help solve the current challenges.
- Allow industry to focus R&D and innovation for maximum return particularly in the area of automation, remote ops and operational efficiencies.
- Enable the development of operator or vendor specific roadmaps for future capability.
- Highlight the sophistication and importance of the resource sector to the space sector as a means to attract and retain high quality talent from around the world.
The primary objective of this project, within the next 12 months, is to engage industry across sectors to generate an in-depth and high-quality remote operations capability report. The knowledge gained through these engagements is pinnacle to success of meeting this objective and ensuring a complete and independent report is produced.
Binar Satellite
Binar Satellite
AROSE is proud to have Curtin University as one of its founding partner organisations. Curtin University has a long-standing commitment to space science and research, aligning well with the AROSE vision of facilitating the uptake and use of technology to service international space missions. Coinciding with the launch of AROSE is the launch of the Curtin University’s own mini satellite in September later this year. The satellite, or ‘cubesat’, will be launched from Japan on a re-supply mission to the International Space Station.
The founding partners of AROSE have teamed up to demonstrate the art-of-the-possible for remote operations, and to show how simple projects can create impact. Onboard the satellite will be a software payload with the ability to interface with various systems typical of remote operations.
The small satellite project is part of a larger research initiative spearheaded by Curtin University’s Space Science and Technology Centre (SSTC) called ‘Binar’, after the Noongar word for ‘fireball’. The Binar 1 cubesat to be launched in September measures 10cm x 10cm x 10cm (termed 1-Unit) making it smaller than a loaf of bread. It will house a single eight-layer printed circuit board, integrating all of the necessary satellite systems, which SSTC Director, Professor Phil Bland says is “about the size of a rather small sandwich.”
The SSTC have partnered with the European Space Agency (ESA) to manage communications and mission control aspects. The SSTC partnership with ESA will pave the way to develop future space technologies in order to assist in an eventual WA mission to the Moon.
The unique challenges brought about by deep-space engineering requires solutions that directly relate to remote operations technologies. As we venture into space, the technology needed to service long-distance communication and operation in variable, low-temperature conditions can be applied to enhance our working environments back home. This includes improving efficiency and safety for industrial processes by introducing digital automation and remote asset management of systems where needed, thus enabling access to complete high-risk activities previously impossible for humans. Technology used for deep-space communication and operation is a key pillar in being able to execute these tasks and is one of many examples for why AROSE is pinpointing space applicable technologies for terrestrial uptake as well as for providing value to the Australian space industry.
Space-ready technology is robust and reliable, making it a great candidate for safety-critical or asset-critical activities required for remote operations. Hardware flown on small satellites has essentially been ‘flight-proven’ and has demonstrated capability to be used in other systems. The Binar 1 cube satellite epitomizes the idea that collaboration between groups can bring about the level of innovation and follow-through needed to establish an Australian market in space.
The Launch of Binar 1 sets a precedent for AROSE to continue to build upon the momentum it has amassed and to signify the strength and ethos of our project team.
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