Episodes
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In this episode, we sat down with Australian investor and entrepreneur Steve Baxter to explore his journey from serving in the Australian Army through starting and growing his own tech businesses, and becoming a successful investor in innovative tech. Recently, he's focused on Defence technology with The Beaten Zone Venture Partners with the aim of driving growth in Australian companies.
In our discussion, Steve shares his unvarnished advice on the challenges of the Defence sector, the importance of energy and manufacturing in Australia, and also some more general advice on pitching, building a company and hiring the right people.
Takeaways:
Steve Baxter transitioned from military service to entrepreneurship, starting with founding a dial-up ISP while in the Army. He discussed the 'chasm of death' that often stalls defence innovation. The BeatonZone, his investment focus, supports early-stage defence tech startups. Australia’s defence budget needs to grow to support innovation and industry competitiveness. High energy costs are a significant challenge for Australian manufacturing. Effective pitches require understanding your audience and highlighting profitability. A strong team is essential for startup success. Australian startups in defence tech have enormous potential for growth. Profitability and focus are critical for attracting investment and long-term success.Steve's team can be contacted via email at [email protected] or to find out more check out their website and follow them on LinkedIn https://www.beatenzone.vc
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In this episode, we had the privilege of speaking with James Acuna, a former CIA operations officer and founder of the Baltic Ghostwing Center of Excellence. James shares his fascinating journey from the world of espionage to consulting and ultimately setting up an uncrewed testing facility in Eastern Europe. In our discussion we cover the challenges of delivering advanced drone technology to Ukraine, the importance of testing environments for combat readiness, and why Estonia is quickly becoming a hub for drone innovation. James also provided incredible insights into the tactical side of drone warfare and his thoughts on the future of unmanned systems and robotics.
Takeaways:
James Acuna has an impressive background, blending CIA operations with engineering expertise. He founded the Baltic Ghostwing Center of Excellence to address the pressing needs for drone technology in Ukraine. There's a surprising gap in how technology from U.S. companies is being delivered to Ukraine. Effective testing environments are critical for ensuring drones are combat-ready. Estonia is positioning itself as a key player in the global drone innovation and testing space. Lessons from drone warfare vary dramatically depending on the region. Tactics and procedures on the ground are just as important as technology in uncrewed or drone warfare. The future of drones and robotics lies in automation and the seamless integration of systems. The Baltic Ghostwing is working to create a professional ecosystem for drone operations, fostering collaboration and innovation. Australian companies are amongst the best companies stepping up to contribute to drone technology efforts in Ukraine.James can be contacted on LinkedIn or through his website at https://balticghostwing.com/
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In this episode, WGCDR Keirin Joyce shares his journey from aspiring fighter pilot to a key figure in the Australian Defence Force’s UAS capabilities. A dedicated advocate for drone education, Keirin discusses founding the ADF Drone Racing Team to inspire new talent and how programs like the drone literacy initiative have trained hundreds of operators, bringing advanced drone tech to the Australian Army. Keirin emphasizes the critical role of UAS and robotics in modern warfare, not just for tactical advantage but for taking on the “dull, dirty, and dangerous” tasks that save lives.
Keirin highlights the challenges in advancing UAS from uncrewed to autonomous, the misuse of terms that complicate discussions, and the tactical evolution needed in today’s conflict environments. He sheds light on the life-saving potential of robotics—often overlooked by the media—and the importance of integrating UAS across military branches. With insights into recent UAS innovations and advice for aspiring engineers, this conversation is both a call for youth engagement in technology and a roadmap for the future of military UAS.
**Key Takeaways:**
- Keirin’s unplanned journey into UAS was filled with unique opportunities.
- Involvement in innovative projects opens unforeseen pathways.
- Nano drones have transformed reconnaissance capabilities.
- Drone racing is a powerful tool for youth engagement.
- The best way to adopt drones is to get them into people's hands.
- Transitioning from uncrewed to autonomous systems is a major challenge.
- Misuse of “autonomous” complicates UAS discussions.
- Today’s conflicts require tactical and technological evolution.
- Robotics and UAS are essential for “dull, dirty, and dangerous” military tasks.
- Joint UAS operations are key to military success.
- Inspiring the next generation is crucial for the future of tech.
- UAS innovations can save lives in hazardous roles.
- Promoting clear career paths in UAS can attract top talent.Join us as we explore how drones and robotics are reshaping defense and inspiring tomorrow’s tech leaders.
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In this conversation, we talk with Nic Gould from Killer Bees, his background in environmental engineering and how he transitioned into building drones and programming. He talks about the limitations of current drone warfare and the need for autonomous systems that can integrate with battlefield management software. Nic also shares his plans for Killer Bees, which involves developing autonomous drone swarms for various applications, including defense and environmental monitoring. The conversation touches on the challenges of integrating swarms of drones into airspace and the importance of social license and safety in drone operations. Takeaways Nick Gould transitioned from environmental engineering to building drones and programming as a form of self-care and fulfillment. Killer Bees is developing autonomous drone swarms for various applications, including defense and environmental monitoring. Integrating drones into airspace is a complex challenge that requires careful regulation and coordination. The social license and safety considerations of drone operations are crucial for gaining public acceptance and trust. The development of autonomous systems in defense and civilian sectors can drive technological advancements and societal progress.
Nic can be found at https://killerbees.tech/
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Peter Milani from Ichor Autonomy discusses his journey in robotics, particularly focusing on military applications. Peter is one of the smartest engineers we know, and has bootstrapped his own autonomous urban exploration drone that can be used to support complex urban clearance operations for infantry, special forces, law enforcement and more.
He shares insights on the challenges faced in developing autonomous systems, the importance of teamwork, and the ethical considerations surrounding robotics in warfare. The discussion also touches on the Australian Defence industry and the need for innovation and support for local companies.
Takeaways
Building a good team is crucial for overcoming challenges quickly and effectively. A key challenge for robotics is localisation (knowing where it is in space) - and it's increasingly difficult in GPS denied environments. Understanding the basics of autonomy is key to building good robotics. Using robotics to reduce exposure of soldiers to danger is more ethical than replacing people's jobs. Defence innovation in Australia needs more support to keep IP and technology in Australia. -
In this conversation, we talk with one of Australia's leading 'One-to-many' Chief Remote Pilots -Sue Osborne.
Starting her journey in the Army as a UAS team leader in multiple Afghanistan deployments, Sue has since left the Army to work in the Australian UAS industry where she's been instrumental in driving change and new use cases for UAS. In 2021, Sue teamed up with Andrew Crowe and built Skyshows, a drone light show company that delivered shows of over 600 drones controlled through a single laptop. In 2024 Skyshows was purchased by US company Nova Sky Stories, (owned by Kimbal Musk) where she now works as the CRP for Nova across Australia.
Sue shares her experiences operating drones in challenging environments, the importance of safety, and also emphasizes the need for more representation of women and veterans in the industry.
TAKEAWAYS
Sue Osborne's Defence background and operational experience in the army as a UAS operator and team leader gave her the foundational skills and knowledge to excel in the drone industry. Sue talks about safety measures and risk management in drone light shows, and how robust processes are essential to ensure the safety and success of these complex shows. The drone industry is rapidly evolving, and there is a need for more representation of women and veterans in the industry. Sue wants to inspire the next generation of young women and men to pursue careers in the drone industry. The future of the drone industry holds exciting possibilities, including using drones for air mobility and transportation during major events like the Olympics.Sue Osborne can be contacted through LinkedIn or via email at [email protected].
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Summary Zak from Rising Sun FPV shares his journey leaving Defence and bootstrapping his way in the emerging drone FPV industry. Starting with drone racing he eventually expanded into other areas, such as selling drone parts and 3D printing. He talks about the challenges and successes of running his own business and the passion he has for FPV drone racing. He also discusses his new venture, RSX (Rising Sun Critical Technology Services), which serves as a funnel for Rising Sun FPV and focuses on manufacturing and professional industry work. KEY TAKEAWAYS: FPV racing can be a great way to learn how drones work (and how to fix them!) Zak is passionate about FPV drone racing and has been intimately involved with the growth of the Australian X-Class drone racing, which involves large, powerful drones. He discusses his involvement in developing bomber drones for military use, highlighting the capabilities and potential applications of these drones. We cover some of the best and cheapest ways to get into flying FPV drones. We also talk about FPV drones being used in STEM education to teach concepts like voltages, currents, and aerodynamics. Zak's new venture, RSX, focuses on manufacturing and professional industry work.
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Adrian Dudok of Skyborne Technologies discusses the development of their armed drone, Cerberus, and their partnership to develop Athena AI to assist with decision-making on the battlefield. Adrian explains the unique features of Cerberus, such as its tri-tilt copter design and its ability to carry out short-range strikes.
KEY TAKEAWAYS:
Skyborne Technologies has developed Cerberus, an armed drone with a tri-tilt copter design and the ability to carry out short-range strikes.
Skyborne has also partnered with Cyborg Engineering to develop Athena AI software and a 'bolt-on' module that can be used to enable Artificial Intelligence assisted targeting (also known as aided target recognition). This helps operators find targets in complex environments and highlights possible threats if they're carrying weapons.
Some of the challenges Skyborne has faced include supply chain and manufacturing, as well as inconsistent government support and funding, which are crucial for developing and adopting innovative defense technologies.
Some of the opportunities Skyborne has leaned into include collaboration with the US and UK which helped them to scale up production and address the demand for advanced UAS capabilities.
The use of AI and robotics in warfare raises ethical and legal considerations, and if applied for the right purposes, they can reduce collateral damage and increase accuracy and compliance with international laws and regulations.
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We had the chance to sit down with Oleg Vornik, CEO of billion-dollar, ASX 300 listed company DroneShield, to chat about the complex world of Counter-UAS (CUAS) technology. Our conversation covered everything from the global reach of their operations to the unique challenges they face in hotspots like Ukraine and the Middle East.
DroneShield is making waves in about 70 countries, with significant deployments in Ukraine, the US, and the Middle East. Oleg emphasized that traditional anti-air defense systems just don't cut it against the small drones that are becoming more prevalent in modern warfare. These drones are now being used for everything from scouting to striking high value air defence systems, which makes the need for specialized CUAS tech more important than ever. This means integrating multiple sensors and effectors to handle the increasingly complex and high-volume drone threats.
Looking to the future, Oleg sees a convergence of consumer-grade and military-grade drones. He also predicts an increasing role for robots in warfare, further highlighting the need for robust and adaptive CUAS technologies into the future.
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Dan Magy has had an impressive career in building innovative businesses that solve problems, and his latest venture Firestorm seeks to "Democratize the Air" by providing modular, mission-focused UAS that can be 3D printed and pieced together like 'Lego'!
Dan discusses his journey as an entrepreneur and the development of drone technology. He talks about the need for cost-effective and modular drone systems in the face of evolving warfare tactics, and the importance of supply chain resilience. Dan also shares a personal story from his time supporting Naval Special Warfare in Iraq, where in 2016 a senior SOF commander showed him a picture of the damage from a drone dropping a bomb on his truck, highlighting the emerging impact of drones in warfare.
Takeaways
Cost-effective and modular drone systems are essential in modern warfare. Supply chain resilience is crucial for the development and production of drone technology. Counter-UAS systems need to adapt to rapidly evolving threats and tactics. Drone warfare has the potential to significantly impact military operations in the future.Dan and his team at Firestorm can be contacted here:
https://www.launchfirestorm.com/#home-contact
Dan's LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/danmagy/
You can find more details on our website at www.ttpod.net or follow us on LinkedIn
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This is a quick snapshot of just the first handful of interesting people we've spoken to for the podcast. We're launching new episodes every second monday starting this week!
