Australian manufacturers face a dual challenge: meeting the country’s 2035 emissions reduction targets while modernising production. Yet most lack thedigital infrastructure needed to support transformation at scale.
The University of Melbourne and Rockwell Automation are working together to test a new wireless system in real manufacturing environments. The technology combines millimetre-wave radio – which transmits data much faster than Wi-Fi or standard 5G – with edge computing to process information almost instantly on the factory floor.
A pilot integrating this system with Autonomous Mobile Robots (AMRs) has shown potential gains of up to 20 per cent in output and a 40 to 60 per cent reduction in operational downtime. Part of a broader Memorandum of Understanding signed in 2022 by the two organisations, the project aims to help Australian manufacturers cut waste, reduce energy consumption, improve productivity and meet decarbonisation targets.
Key facts
FACULTY: Faculty of Engineering and Information Technology
SECTOR: Advanced Manufacturing; Industrial Automation
YEAR COLLABORATION BEGAN: 2022
SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT GOALS ADDRESSED: Industry, Innovation and Infrastructure; Partnerships for the Goals
ECOSYSTEM SUPPORT
- University of Melbourne Proof-of-Concept funding TRAM (Translating Research at Melbourne) Runway, Track and Bootcamp support
- $199K Australia’s Economic Accelerator Seed grant
- $299K Australia’s Economic Accelerator Ignite grant
First published on 23 June 2026.
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