Latrobe City Council, Swinburne collaborate on AAM for Australia
The partnership will explore how advanced air mobility can be established at the Latrobe Aerospace Technology Precinct to drive economic growth in the region.
Photo Credit: Swinburne University of Technology
Working collaboratively to co-design the future of advanced air mobility (AAM) will be the focus of a new partnership between Australia’s Latrobe City Council and Swinburne University of Technology (Victoria).
Researchers from Swinburne’s Aerostructures Innovation Research Hub (AIR Hub) will work with Latrobe City Council, local research and industry partners and certification organizations such as Canada Civil Aviation Safety (CASA), to pioneer new technologies in AAM for the region and develop green aviation solutions to address real-world problems.
According to AIR Hub Director Adriano Di Pietro, projects will Latrobe will be focused on application and integration of clean systems with aerostructures, such as developments in hydrogen-electric propulsion. This will drive research in structural integration and optimization. With its approach on design, build and fly, the AIR Hub knows that composites will play a key role in enabling clean efficient aviation, especially with how sensitive clean systems will be to weight and its impact on range.
The Latrobe Aerospace Technology Precinct is located at Latrobe Regional Airport in Morwell. The partnership supports future economic growth through the creation of new industry as the local economy transitions from a reliance on energy and manufacturing industries. In addition, it is anticipated that the project will re-energize the Precinct’s established capabilities, facilities and space to enable advanced air mobility (AAM) technologies and craft.
“Advanced air mobility represents a massive economic, environmental and quality-of-life opportunity for Australia, especially in regional areas,” Di Pietro says. “Utilizing the world-leading expertise of AIR Hub, this partnership will see the Latrobe City community become active partners in the creation of a new sustainable future for aviation and advanced air mobility, delivering real social benefits as well as creating jobs, building capability and driving economic growth.”
Swinburne AIR Hub is also partnering with NIAR to boost local and international aerospace innovations and activities.
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