The Australian Government's Innovation Report

A novel approach developed by DSTO to address this concern has been
the development of Smart Patches, which are patches embedded with
sensors that enable the health and well-being of the patch system to be
monitored. The patch systems developed by DSTO are self powered and
contain wireless data links allowing the sensors to be interrogated remotely.
DSTO successfully demonstrated a world first in-situ self powered structural
health monitoring system in a composite bonded repair on the aileron hinge
of an F/A-18 operational aircraft.
Smart Patch System. Photo credits: DSTO
These types of structural health monitoring systems have the potential to
have a significant impact upon the operational life extension of defence
aircraft. This work offers a solid foundation for the development of future
autonomous in-situ structural health monitoring systems.
Automation of the Battlespace: The rate of technology evolution, particularly with miniaturisation, connectivity
and processing power, is outstripping the capacity for defence forces to absorb new opportunities or even
conceptualise the emergent concepts of operation.
Maintaining a capability edge in such a dynamic, fast moving technology environment is a challenge for the
Australian Defence Force. The force that can achieve the required tempo and, more importantly, demonstrate the
capacity to integrate and field disparate technologies, will retain a persistent capability advantage over its
adversaries.
Automation of the Battlespace is a DSTO initiative bringing together disparate technologies such as miniaturised
sensors, state-of-the-art communications technologies, internet protocols, unmanned aerial, underwater and ground
vehicles, robotics, artificial intelligence and intelligent agents.
DSTO is using networking, integration and automation to develop and explore the use of new, intelligent
systems to carry out hazardous tasks traditionally reserved for war fighters, thereby reducing their exposure
to enemy attack. These systems also have the potential to increase the coherency of effort and operational tempo
of the Australian Defence Force, and offer potentially higher operational effectiveness per war fighter with
lower casualty levels.
Automation of the Battlespace. Photo credits: DSTO
Chapter 3 - National research priorities 119