The competition pitted teams against each other to solve problems in human-robot interaction.
Hosted by Edith Cowan University (ECU), and running from 31 August to 4 September, this was the third iteration of the Army-run event, but the first time with ECU involvement.
The workshop culminated in a real-world event on 11 September with a live competition at the Australian Automation and Robotics Precinct, where the future of automation, robotics and sustainable technologies is tested, developed and brought to life on a global stage.
In the demonstration event, multidisciplinary teams collaborated in providing solutions to challenges in human-robot interaction. The event pitted five teams against each other, each team consisting of a mix of Defence personnel, Defence industry and academics, in a show of brainstorming and fast thinking to solve the operational challenge.
The demonstration took the form of an obstacle course for a UGV – an uncrewed ground vehicle – and a drone working together, recreating a potential challenge, in this case of an incursion in Western Australia's huge littoral zone. The teams were asked to respond to scenarios like what happens if the UGV breaks down, if it gets bogged, if it falls in a hole, or if it has a software failure? The teams, with very different skillsets, were judged on their problem-solving skills, their skill in coordinating the UGVs, and their ability to control the operational environment.
"We had no idea what would eventuate," said Michele Clement, ECU Defence Engagement, before the event.
The role of ECU staff was to promote the human-robot element in the exercise, and to explore the interaction between humans and automated systems. The human element is a vital part of the equation, and ECU researchers were also concerned with the wellbeing, as well as the performance, of the human participants in real-life scenarios.
With strong industry and Defence connections, ECU was further promoted as an industry partner. Defence is a growing sector in Western Australia, projected in the near future to become second only to the mining sector. ECU plays a pivotal role in providing a significant learning environment to build on these Defence resources, as it seeks to grow its Defence program.
Exercise Western Dawn provides a unique opportunity for ECU to collaborate with Defence and industry partners and strengthen relationships to develop our Defence capability through this innovative program.
The exercise is typical of the competitive industry-connected learning that is one of ECU's major strengths, and it is hoped that this collaboration will continue Defence, industry and University cooperation further into the future.
