"Brisbane Airport is dedicated to delivering cutting edge, innovative technology to improve not only airport infrastructure, but the aviation industry as a whole," executive manager, corporate relations, Jim Carden said.
"The ARCAA will conduct research into breakthrough UAV technology, which has countless applications, from military functions combating terrorism and improving bio-security measures, to an agricultural focus through crop dusting, not to mention the impact UAVs will have on fire fighting efforts for major bush fires."
BAC and QUT have undertaken world-leading research into such diverse projects as the development of the Airport City, water quality, energy use, bird management, aviation security and now UAV technology.
QUT functions as the R&D arm of BAC while the Airport provides a ‘living laboratory' for QUT to undertake real world research and to strengthen its skills base.
The ARCAA comprises a main workshop for prototype air vehicle development, a Virtual UAV Laboratory for indoor hardware-in-the-loop prototype testing and general-purpose lab.
Given the nature of UAV R&D, a fully equipped Mobile Operations Centre has also been developed.
The facility has been designed by Conrad Gargett Architects and will be built by Badge Constructions.
It is due for completion December 2009/January 2010.