Elbit Systems of Australia (ELSA), in partnership with the Victorian Government, has opened a new research facility to help with the development and commercialisation of defence and non-defence technologies within the state. 

The establishment of the Centre of Excellence for Human-Machine Teaming and Artificial Intelligence allows ELSA to work with Victorian universities and research organisations, fostering collaboration between the defence and non-defence sectors. 

ELSA also plans to partner up with startups and SMEs to commercialise discoveries in: 

• autonomous systems 
• machine vision 
• robotics 
• industrial internet of things networks 
• augmented and virtual reality. 

The Centre helps ELSA to broaden its business footprint and home-grown capabilities at its purpose-built Port Melbourne engineering facility. It will also improve the company’s potential to engage with R&D partners in Melbourne and across Australia. 

“The launch of the Centre of Excellence is a key milestone in ELSA’s transformation to be an independent innovative technology company in Australia employing locals to create products specially designed for the Australian market,” ELSA Managing Director, Major General (ret’d) Paul McLachlan, AO, CSC said. 

ELSA has signed a two-year partnership with RMIT University to undertake two research projects that will focus on using drones to assist with mass evacuations during emergencies. 

The projects will look at how drones can be used to count the number of people in designated evacuation zones. It will also examine how to coordinate and communicate the most efficient evacuation routes and monitor the area to ensure everyone is accounted for. 

“It is rare that an emergency management organisation has access to research and development money to spend. Most funding goes to operations that is spent – and quite rightly – on appliances and people,” Director McLachlan said. 

“Our vision is to create an opportunity to collaborate and co-develop innovative technology that would make their jobs easier and better and that’s what this partnership with RMIT signifies today.” 

Throughout the process of planning and setting up the R&D Centre of Excellence, Austrade has helped ELSA in investigating and profiling key Australian R&D expertise in the company’s areas of interest. 

“Austrade’s outstanding support throughout the process has been a key factor in creating a technology and business engagement with the relevant points of contact,” ELSA Vice President and Corporate Chief Scientist Dr Alon Stopel said. 

“Austrade also helped us connect with the government entities that financially supported us, leading to the successful initiation of this centre of excellence.” 

Formed in 2010, ELSA provides solutions and systems for homeland security, emergency services and defence. The company’s engineers and end-user specialists transform leading-edge technology to meet Australian standards.  

ELSA employs around 250 people, of which about 80 are military veterans, including six new staff at the Centre of Excellence. ELSA is the Australian subsidiary of Elbit Systems, a defence contractor and trusted supplier of defence and security equipment globally. 

Source: Austrade. Content has been edited for style and length.

Eliza Sayon

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Eliza is a content producer and editor at Public Spectrum. She is an experienced writer on topics related to the government and to the public, as well as stories that uplift and improve the community.

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