National Robotics Strategy: discussion paper

Yes.

Australia are of robotics and automation technologies, an exemplar is in the mining & resources sector where Australia operates over 70% of the autonomous heavy haul trucks on the planet. We are great at robotics and automation, but we can and must do more.

Australia can be of robotics and automation. Moving further up the value chain into robotic systems and the software that run them.

: Whilst we must build capability in designing and developing robotics and automation technology, deploying robotics and automation technologies is no easy feat - just ask Tier 1 Australian miners who have spent years and billions buying and implementing autonomous truck and rail haulage technologies from American (Caterpillar) and Japanese (Komatsu) autonomous systems developers.

As is successfully being done between the resources industry and space sector in remote operations technology development and implementation, we should leverage this capability across into other sectors such as agriculture, defence, and manufacturing.

: Whilst we must build capability in designing and developing robotics and automation technology, deploying robotics and automation technologies is no easy feat - just ask Tier 1 Australian miners who have spent years and billions buying and implementing autonomous truck and rail haulage technologies from American (Caterpillar) and Japanese (Komatsu) autonomous systems developers.

As is successfully being done between the resources industry and space sector in remote operations technology development and implementation, we should leverage this capability across into other sectors such as agriculture, defence, and manufacturing.

& : In Western Australia alone, we have at least four companies dedicated to designing and manufacturing advanced electronics componentry, much of which is used in robotics, automation and processing equipment around the world. (e.g. Advanced Technology & Manufacturing, Element Engineering, Advanced Technology & Manufacturing in WA).

We need to support expansion of this capability (much of the constraint is trained operators of advanced manufacturing equipment, not equipment purchases itself), and showcase what Australia is capable of.

We have world leading expertise in autonomous vehicles in the mining and resources sector, until recently Australia had more fully autonomous (no driver) operating hours of vehicles on open roads than any other country on the planet. We have an opportunity to leverage the capability, and regulatory environment, created in the mining sector across onto public roads and long haul trucking.

There are many companies doing world-leading design and development of autonomous systems (robots driving cars & trucks) elsewhere (US, Japan, China) who we could attract into Australia, to leverage our deployment capability, and work with our sector to support building our design and development capability.

- . Designing, testing, developing and scaling hardware based technologies is an expensive and drawn out exercise, particularly when it comes to solving problems in heavy industry environments like mining, manufacturing, refining and agriculture. Its so much harder than software, particulary consumer facing software, and typically requires more cash up front to get to the point of having a prototype, proof of concept or Minimum Viable Product (MVP). But, because the addressable market for many robotics and automation technologies in heavy industrial settings is smaller than consumer tech, getting capital from high-risk high-reward investors is challenging (e.g. there are millions of cars on the planet that will benefit from autonomy tech, but there are only hundreds of thousands of off-road heavy haulage trucks for instance).

The venture fund Main Sequence setup together with CSIRO is a great example of a mechanism to make capital available to high value technology development (deep tech in their case) that would otherwise be challenging to fund in Australia.

Establishing a similar fund focused on automation, robotics and 'hard-tech' would be a significant unblocker for early stage robotics and automation systems development in Australia.

Support building capability to run advanced manufacturing facilities and equipment we already have (e.g. Advanced Technology & Manufacturing, Element Engineering, and Auto Control Systems in Western Australia to name a few).

- A key component of successfully commercialising any technology is demonstrating that you have demand from consumers or companies who are able and willing to purchase it. This is relatively easy in consumer facing software - think developing an app that installs on a smart-phone; you can demonstrate it relatively easily to potential buyers with little fuss.

That's not the case with robotics and automation which are hard-tech. Hard-tech not only requires new physical equipment to be designed and developed, but in industrial use cases (think mining) need access to real-world operating environments to prove their ability to solve the problem, at scale, safely and survive some of the harshest environments in the world.

This is a problem / opportunity which the Australian Automation and Robotics Precinct being built in Western Australia is striving to address, through providing close to real-world condition outdoor testing environments for outdoor / field robotics, automation and enabling technologies. "The Precinct" will provide to design, develop and demonstrate robotics technologies together with industry - accelerating the path to comercialisation.

Research needs to build trust in industry partners that they can ultimately deliver benefit to their organizations / industry. That's particularly difficult when it comes to hard-tech like robotics and automation. Creating opportunities for research to be showcased in a meaningful way is useful, particularly if you can do it in a real industry operating environment. This is something that the Australian Automation & Robotics Precinct in Western Australia is striving to create for mining, agriculture, defence and energy industry sectors and researchers.

Lack of Awareness: We have many world-class hard tech developers building and producing components of autonomous and robotic systems (Element Engineering for Epiroc, Auto Control Systems for IEEE Anfo Truck automation to name a few). Many potential customers may not be aware of the capabilities and benefits of Australian robotics and automation technologies, which can make it difficult to sell them overseas.

In an industrial context, we need to build trust with frontline workers in the ability of robotics and automation to safely help them do their jobs - not necessarily displace them. The mining sector's embrace of autonomous haul trucks is a good example her the vast majority of truck drivers who were displaced by automation of haulage in the 700 odd trucks automated across Australia were retrained as as operators of more complex equipment, or trained in running them all complex systems required to support autonomous haulage.

To ensure that robotics and automation are developed and adopted lawfully, responsibly, and in a way that improves the lives of Australians, Australia can implement tangible examples of regulations, standards, and ethical frameworks. One example is the development of industry-specific standards and guidelines for the safe and ethical use of robotics and automation. Additionally, creating a regulatory framework that requires transparency around the use of these technologies, as well as addressing concerns around privacy and data security, can help ensure that Australians' rights are protected. Investing in education and training programs that address the ethical and social implications of robotics and automation can also help to ensure that these technologies are used in ways that benefit society. By adopting these measures, Australia can create a responsible and sustainable approach to robotics and automation that benefits both individuals and the wider community.

To ensure that Australian workers benefit from the adoption of robotics and automation, it's crucial to prioritize measures that make dirty, dangerous, and dull jobs safer, while also creating opportunities for upskilling and reskilling. This can involve investing in training and education programs that help workers develop the skills needed to work alongside robotics and automation, while also providing support for workers who may be displaced by these technologies. Additionally, prioritizing the adoption of robotics and automation in industries that have a shortage of workers or where the work is physically demanding can create opportunities for workers to transition into higher-paid, more fulfilling jobs. By focusing on both safety and upskilling, Australia can ensure that workers benefit from the adoption of robotics and automation, and that these technologies are implemented in a way that promotes greater social and economic equality.

Australia has a skilled workforce with expertise in robotics and automation that has been developed through the advanced manufacturing and mining industries. Australia's advanced manufacturing sector has established a strong foundation in robotics and automation, with companies such as Cochlear, Resmed, and ANCA developing world-class technologies in the medical and aerospace industries. In the mining industry, Australia has also gained significant experience in the development and deployment of autonomous and robotic systems, such as driverless trucks and automated drilling equipment. These skills and capabilities can be shared across sectors, particularly in defense, agriculture, and healthcare, to increase productivity, safety, and efficiency.

However, there are expected gaps that need to be addressed, particularly in terms of the rapid pace of technological advancements in robotics and automation. As these technologies continue to evolve, there is a need for continuous upskilling and reskilling of the workforce to ensure that they remain competitive and effective. Additionally, there is a need to address the lack of diversity in the robotics and automation workforce, particularly in terms of gender and cultural backgrounds, to ensure that all Australians have the opportunity to benefit from these emerging technologies. By addressing these gaps, Australia can further strengthen its robotics and automation workforce and maintain its position as a leader in this field.

There are several barriers to training, attracting, and retaining skilled and qualified workers to produce and adopt robotics and automation in Australia. Some of these barriers include:

Lack of Awareness: Many potential workers may not be aware of the opportunities available in the robotics and automation field, which can make it difficult to attract and retain qualified candidates.

Skills Gap: There may be a gap between the skills and qualifications of the existing workforce and the needs of the robotics and automation industry, making it difficult to find qualified candidates.

Competition from Other Industries: The robotics and automation industry competes with other industries for skilled and qualified workers, which can make it challenging to attract and retain top talent.

Cost: Training and education in robotics and automation can be costly, making it difficult for individuals to gain the necessary skills and qualifications.

A great example of adoption of robotics and automation is in the mining sector - in particular drilling automation. Global Original Equipment Manufacturer Epiroc, HQ's in Sweden, developed world leading autonomous drilling technology which has seen vast adoption in the mining sector in Australia. a lesser known fact about Epiroc technology, is that a few of the hardware components are designed and manufactured right here in WA. Another good example of robotic systems being developed in Australia, is with Universal Field Robotics based in QLD. this this team of mechatronics engineers together with software engineers have developed world first small scale outdoor field robotics systems, which have seen early adoption in the mining sector, and also application in the defence sector.

There are several barriers to increased adoption of robotics and automation in Australia that need to be addressed. These include:

Cost: The cost of developing, purchasing, and implementing robotics and automation technologies can be high, which can be a significant barrier for companies looking to adopt them.

Skills Gap: There may be a shortage of workers with the necessary skills and qualifications to work with and operate these technologies effectively.

Resistance to Change: Resistance to change and fear of job displacement can be significant barriers to the adoption of robotics and automation technologies in the workplace.

To address these barriers, Australia can take several strategies, including investing in research and development to drive down the cost of these technologies, providing education and training programs to bridge the skills gap, and implementing effective change management strategies to mitigate resistance to change and fears of job displacement.

One example of how Australia is addressing these barriers is through the Australian Automation and Robotics Precinct being built in Western Australia. The Precinct provides close to real-world conditions for testing outdoor/field robotics, automation, and enabling technologies, which can accelerate the adoption of these technologies in industries such as mining, agriculture, and defense. By providing a platform for collaboration and testing, the Precinct can help to drive the adoption of robotics and automation technologies, addressing the barriers of cost, skills gap, and resistance to change.

Australia's mining sector has world-leading regulatory environment to enable the adoption of automation at scale - this has been hard won through efforts from early adopters like BHP with Caterpillar autonomy, and Rio Tinto with Caterpillar. The reduction of regulatory barriers has led to development of 3rd party automation systems being accelerated - a good example is ASI Robotics success with Roy Hill - leading to a significant investment b ASI establishing autonomous system design and development right here in WA.

Building on this success, similar open, yet safety focused, regulations should be applied into other areas, including manufacturing and public roads.