Swinburne’s AIR Hub to drive the future of aerospace

Announcing the hub, Victorian Treasurer Tim Pallas said, ‘developing ground-breaking technology in our own backyard will position Victoria as a world leader in the aeronautical industry.’

Victorian Minister for Higher Education Gayle Tierney also welcomed the announcement.

‘The new AIR Hub will put Victoria on the world stage through its cutting-edge research and the really valuable partnership between universities, industry and government.’

Lighter planes, cheaper rockets, better drones and flying taxis

AIR Hub is a truly global technology, research and manufacturing collaboration, with industry partners Boeing, Quickstep, CableX, Furnace Engineering, Shoal and Marand Precision Engineering, plus research partners CSIRO, Monash University and Germany’s University of Stuttgart and ARENA 2036 combining with Swinburne’s research teams.

AIR Hub is working on ‘light-weighting’ and automating the production of space systems like the rockets used to launch satellites. Light-weighting, the manufacturing of parts to achieve better fuel efficiency and handling, and faster production could save thousands of dollars per launch, opening up business opportunities in the lucrative global space industry for Australian companies. Unmanned aerial vehicles or drones could travel further to deliver supplies to remote places, and eVTOL could become the future in a ‘flying Uber’ concept of transportation.

As part of the design and manufacturing process, AIR Hub will use artificial intelligence, augmented reality, virtual reality, machine learning and collaborative robots to support Australia’s world-leading capabilities to manufacture aerostructures. 

‘AIR Hub will bring researchers and industry together to collaborate on real world problems,’ Swinburne’s AIR Hub Director, Dr Adriano Di Pietro, said.

‘By using the latest technologies in digitalisation, automation and advanced materials, we will reinforce our industry partners’ position in the global aerospace industry and accelerate innovative technology development. This contribution to air mobility is vital to Australia’s future, connecting our people and communities.’

The AIR Hub will foster new, highly skilled talent and upskill the existing workforce to increase job opportunities in the aerospace and space sectors for Victorians in the post COVID-19 period. 

Facilities across Victoria, including the Swinburne-CSIRO Industry 4.0 Testlab for Composite Additive Manufacturing in Clayton and the manufacturing sites of key industry partners will support AIR Hub’s research and development activities.

‘AIR Hub will also work closely with Swinburne’s Victorian Hydrogen Hub (VH2) to research and develop capacity for hydrogen storage on aircraft and eVTOL air vehicles, enabling them to make use of green fuels of the future to help meet global zero emission targets,’ Professor Quester said.