Mobile Innovation Lab

About the lab

The Swinburne Mobile Innovation Lab is a mobile research and engagement facility designed to bring advanced technology, hands-on learning and industry collaboration directly to you. It supports cutting-edge research, STEM education, workforce training and real-world industry partnerships – wherever innovation is needed most.

The lab is continually upgraded with new equipment – such as 3D printers, welding simulators, material testing machines, thermal imaging, hologram screens and advanced neuroimaging tools – to ensure it remains at the forefront of technology and research.

Key features and capabilities

The Mobile Innovation Lab showcases Swinburne's strength in applied innovation and technology – serving as both a research tool and a platform for community and industry engagement across several key areas.

Technology demonstrations

The lab hosts advanced driving and flight simulators, cybersecurity systems, virtual and augmented reality (VR and AR) experiences, and sensor fusion systems developed by Swinburne researchers. 

These demonstrations showcase the latest advancements in technology – providing a glimpse into the future of innovation with potential applications across various industries including transportation, logistics, and security and surveillance.

Autonomous systems

The lab facilitates the testing and coordination of autonomous mobile robots and drones, as well as tele-operated robotic systems for emergency medicine – allowing Swinburne researchers to explore and refine the integration of autonomous systems.

A central feature is the lab’s deployment as a mobile command-and-control centre – highlighting real-time information acquisition, coordinated system control, and enhanced situational awareness for human operators in remote sites with direct applications in humanitarian and disaster relief efforts. 

Industry collaboration

Serving as a testbed for collaboration with industry, the lab is equipped with industry-leading technologies such as:

VBOX from Racelogic
UR-5E from UR
Radar systems from Delphi
LiDAR systems from Ouster
Optical systems from AVT
Robotic and haptic controllers from 3D Systems
Camera systems from Stereolabs
UAV from Freedspace.

STEM education, training and outreach

Engaging students and the workforce through hands-on demonstrations of emerging technologies, the lab provides an interactive learning experience that inspires interest in science, technology, engineering and mathematics. 

Freight operations

The lab tests and trials low-emission systems, alternative fuels, advanced sensors and safety innovations to develop safer, smarter and cleaner technologies.

By connecting research with the real-world freight operations, this asset supports industry innovation and gives students hands-on experience with the technologies transforming Australia’s freight sector.

The Mobile Innovation Lab is home to a range of cutting-edge equipment.
The ultrasound robotic arm can be operated remotely, allowing fast medical intervention on the road.
Light Detection and Ranging (LiDAR) data from aerial drones, truck sensors and ground robots are processed in real-time by an onboard, secure GPU server.
Robotic dogs with LiDAR, cameras, and other sensing devices can be used for humanitarian aid and disaster relief operations.
The Mobile Innovation Lab is equipped with a driving simulator which, among other applications, can be programmed to carry out remote medical testing.
Swinburne researchers demonstrate the driving simulator inside the Mobile Innovation Lab.
Swinburne's Mobile Innovation Lab - transporting technology where it's needed most.