Insitu Pacific ScanEagle launched from Mark4 launcher (PRNewsFoto/Insitu, Inc.)
One hundred new drone industry jobs will be created in Queensland, according to an announcement detailing new funding by the Queensland Government. Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk said the AU$1m Advance Queensland funding aims to develop and test cutting-edge Remotely Piloted Aircraft Systems (RPAS) technologies for adoption by critical industries including agriculture, mining, energy, telecommunications, search and rescue and environmental management.
The funding is part of a partnership with global aerospace giant The Boeing Company in conjunction with Boeing subsidiary Insitu Pacific, Shell’s QGC project, Telstra and a number of locally based small to medium-sized enterprises.
According to the government announcement, more than a third of Australia’s RPAS industry is located in Queensland, with current applications as diverse as surveying, photography, reef management and feral animal control.
The global market for RPAS was recently valued at US$10.1 billion in 2015 and is expected to account for US$14.9 billion by 2020.
“The project aims to capitalise on the capabilities inherent in drones to carry out remote-monitoring and inspection of key infrastructure and data analysis to allow for better decision-making,” Ms Palaszczuk said.
“Drone technology has the capability of introducing greater efficiencies in a range of Queensland industries and we want to make sure our state develops an industry that delivered jobs as part of this process.”
Innovation Minister Leeanne Enoch said the project aims to develop and market ‘platform technologies’ that will foster a new industry.
“This aims to test and develop platform technologies – groups of technologies which form a base to take the next technological leap – in areas where Queensland has scientific knowledge and emerging industry strength,” Ms Enoch said.
Shell’s Vice President QGC Tony Nunan has already partnered with Boeing in developing the world’s first commercial use of beyond-visual-line-of-sight (BVLOS) RPAS operations in its gas field operations, and the funding with further support future developments.
The Palaszczuk Government is currently compiling a 10-year aerospace roadmap and action plan with the goal of making Queensland the hub Asia-Pacific aerospace industry.
