A mock medical emergency is underway in Dalby and Unmanned Aerial Vehicle (UAV) or drone experts and enthusiasts from five countries are attempting to assist.
Ten teams, five from Australia, two from Poland and one each from Canada, Thailand and the Netherlands, are competing in the CSIRO-QUT jointly run UAV Challenge, incorporating the Medical Express mission.
CSIRO Data 61 engineer and Head Marshal at the UAV Challenge events, Mr Dennis Frousheger, said teams needed to fly their autonomous aircraft from the Dalby Model Aero Club to a remote landing site over 10 kilometres away, retrieve a blood sample from Outback Joe, then return to base with the blood sample within one hour.
“This is a very sophisticated Challenge and again $50,000 will be awarded to the team that successfully completes the mission and scores the most points along the way,” he said.
QUT Professor of Robotics, Jonathan Roberts, sees the Challenge as a key way of driving forward UAV technology and know-how.
He said the Challenge focussed on the ability of UAVs to provide service to the community.
“Too often when people think of UAVs or drones they think of them being used for aerial photography or by amateur hobbyists, or as pizza deliverers,” he said.
“But UAVs have enormous potential to play a very significant role in emergency situations, be they medical, natural disasters or conservation.
“A sophisticated UAV that can deliver medical supplies will be a life-saver. A UAV that can fly over a bushfire or floodwaters and send back real-time data to management teams coordinating rescue efforts will be a life-saver. So too will the UAV that can map the habitats of our endangered species enabling them to be better managed.”
Professor Roberts said the Challenge could not go ahead without the support of a wide range of sponsors.
Sponsors:
Major supporter: Queensland Government
Platinum Sponsors: Insitu Pacific, Northrop Grumman, Lockheed Martin
Gold: Boeing
Silver: Little Ripper Lifesaver, MathWorks, CASA
Bronze: LightWare Optoelectronics, Defence Science and Technology Group, Australian Robotics & Automation Association, Western Downs Regional Council
Media contact: Rose Trapnell, QUT media team leader, 07 3138 2361 or 0407 585 901 rose.trapnell@qut.edu.au
