What we do.
EPE innovation is a dedicated organic integration and development hub that looks to mature innovative technology solutions in support of identified gaps within EPE’s core area of expertise. Providing R&D solutions to meet emerging opportunities, EPE innovation operates a matrixed model drawing on key expertise from across the company in the pursuit and delivery of innovation projects and commercialisation opportunities.
At its core is EPE’s team of Robotics and software engineers who work from a bespoke mechatronics and integration facility within EPE’s Brisbane headquarters. In addition, EPE’s local MILTECS (Military Training, Evaluation, Certification and Systems Assurance) facility provides a state-of-the-art testing and evaluation centre within which concepts are developed, validated and progressed. EPE innovation is a collaborative organization that brings together industry, academia, defence and law enforcement organisations to optimize emerging technologies into effects and solutions that can enhance the protective capabilities of our core user groups.
EPE Innovation is targeting three development streams into 2022.
- Development of a broad spectrum respiratory cannister solution, a key element of our short-term commercialisation plans.
- Developing our modular autonomy solutions for smaller, unmanned ground platforms
- Integration and fusion of sensors and initiators from unmanned platforms to a single user interface.
Our Innovation Journey
Broad Spectrum Respiratory Canister Commercialisation
Sponsored by DIH
CSIRO and EPE are working to deliver a Broad Spectrum Respiratory Canister (BSRC) that will incorporate new technology to provide protection across multiple CWA and TIC threats in a single canister.
Maritime PRIED
Sponsored by DIH
EPE worked with the Royal Australian Navy to develop a detection capability to provide stand-off detection for narcotics, explosives, chemical warfare agents, precursors, and toxic industrial chemicals for protection of Naval boarding parties.
Handeld Stand-off Raman (HSR) – Miniature PRIED
Sponsored by DIH
HSR is an extension of the Maritime PRIED project, involving miniaturisation of the Raman sensing technology. This will facilitate user operation and enable integration onto unmanned systems.
Modular Autonomy
Funded by EPE
EPE’s innovation team is scoping autonomous solutions for unmanned ground platforms with the aim of providing a modular capability with application across a suite of small to medium UGVs
Amulet Phase 1
Sponsored by DIH
EPE successfully delivered a DIH project which involved integration of an existing Ground Penetrating Radar (GPR) onto the TALON IV UGV. This Proof of Concept increased stand-off distances for operators by providing remote detection of buried IEDs.
Amulet Phase 2
Sponsored by DIH
Building directly on Amulet Phase 1, this project incorporated a highly accurate Global Navigation Satellite System to digitally map (to sub centimetre level) and physically mark the ground as suspect devices were identified. This further contributed to remove operators from threat environments.
Enhanced route clearance 1
Sponsored by DIH
EPE’s experience with integrating GPR onto unmanned systems positioned us to be part of a consortium developing a system of systems capability focused on route search. A suite of sensors mounted on unmanned systems provides situational awareness data to improve commander decision making for above and below ground threats.
EOD Data Logger
Sponsored by ADF Rapid Prototyping, Development and Evaluation (RPDE)
Developed as a direct response to an ADF EOD fatality in Afghanistan, the EOD Data logger project was undertaken to provide commanders with the ability to monitor physiological status of EOD operators working in high-stress environments.
Scimitar
Sponsored by ADF
Scimitar Tactical is a capability that enhances the EOD Data logger by providing Commanders real-time and recorded information of tasks that can be used to enhance operational and training performance. EPE provided testing and verification of the holistic system.
We partner with Research Institutions and Industry
Research Partners
Industry Partners
MILTECS
Accelerating the development of capabilities more rapidly will ensure Defence maintains its competitive edge. Rapidly maturing concepts through the Technology Readiness Levels (TRL 1-9) requires easy ongoing access to facilities for test, evaluation and validation. There has been a lack of suitable and accessible facilities within Australia and our region for Defence, Primes and industry to utilise Test Labs and Proving Grounds. MILTECS (Military Training, Evaluation, Certification and Systems Assurance) facility has been built by EPE, with $1.4 million funding from Defence’s SICP (Sovereign Industry Capability Priority) fund as it directly contributes to four Defence Priorities, while leveraging EPE’s strategic partnership with CSIRO and EPE’s private funding of $1M.
Our Story.
Borne from EPE’s core mission to deliver optimised solutions that remove operators from harm’s way; EPE innovation began with integration of equipment to meet end user requirements such as integration of CBRN sensors onto in-service robotic platforms. It has grown from a single graduate engineering resource in 2018, to multiple dedicated project and engineering teams today. This growth has been in response to gaps identified and solutions developed by our team of subject matter experts in collaboration with end users, other industry partners and academic institutions.
The growth of EPE Innovation has been built on the successful delivery of several projects since 2016 through Defence’s Rapid Prototyping, Development and Evaluation (RPDE) program and the Defence Innovation Hub (DIH). Currently executing our 5th DIH project, EPE innovation is focused on broadening this base by harnessing contemporary research and development and turning this into tangible, commercial solutions that ultimately save lives. EPE’s Innovation teams currently work across a variety of initiatives in support of EPE’s current and future strategy as detailed below.