ReefWorks

ReefWorks tropical marine technology test range offers a national capability to safely test marine technologies, uncrewed systems, and new sensors in a real-world environment.

Based at AIMS headquarters, near Townsville, on the doorstep of the Great Barrier Reef, the secure test and evaluation facility is open to industry, government, and academic innovators.

While 42 percent of the world’s oceans are tropical, ReefWorks is one of the first marine technology test ranges in the world located in tropical waters - a challenging operating environment for marine technologies.

We offer development, design, and testing services for uncrewed and autonomous aerial, surface, and underwater systems as well as other innovations or sensors.

ReefWorks is an AIMS initiative supported by the Queensland Government.

We provide cost-effective and safe test environments in secure, remote locations.

ReefWorks facilities include:

• three sea test ranges with differing conditions and autonomous corridors
• test tanks
• workshops
• wharf facilities

Learn more about ReefWorks services

Catalysing technology for tropical marine ecosystems

Marine ecosystems are under increasing pressure from the impacts of climate change and other challenges.

AIMS is exploring the latest technology to better understand the changing tropical marine environment.

We’re trialling next-generation sensors, artificial intelligence, robotics, autonomous systems and cloud computing to provide more comprehensive knowledge, faster, to inform sustainable management.

We also seek to reduce human risk and release our world-leading marine scientists from routine tasks, allowing more time for highly skilled work.

ReefWorks brings a new capability to Australia, providing expertise and facilities to conduct routine test and evaluation of marine technologies in Australia, especially autonomous systems in a tropical marine environment.

This capability is essential for the certification and commissioning of these systems into operational service.
 

At ReefWorks, AIMS and other Australian innovators can develop and mature their marine robotics, autonomous systems and artificial intelligence (RAS-AI) systems in a safe and secure environment. In turn, this provides AIMS with an opportunity to work with and learn from Australia’s leading innovators.

ReefWorks is positioned to catalyse Australia’s innovation in marine RAS-AI by offering testing at different levels of technology readiness – from proof-of-concept to operations. It also enables innovators to verify technologies as fit-for-purpose, safe to operate and environmentally compliant.