Partner with Rapido – the multi-disciplinary innovation hub with professional R&D engagement and project management
Why partner with us?
Our industry and social impact partners gain access to professional engineers, R&D experts and skilled project managers who collaborate with UTS world-class researchers, facilities and labs.
We bridge the gap between academia and industry, unlocking new possibilities for individuals, organisations, and communities to thrive through the power of information technology and engineering. Our experts in software, mechatronics, UX and digital solutions innovate new products and services for our clients.
Whether you’re a startup, a corporation, or a not for profit, our commercially focused R&D team can manage your project through our university-wide innovation ecosystem.
Explore some of our industry projects below:
Mineral Technologies
Tasked with disrupting the mining industry by 3D printing on-site gravity spiral separators (GSS). Rapido replaced traditional manufacturing of the separators with Industry 4.0 production through the development of a large scale bespoke 3D printer. As part of the project, Rapido embedded IoT sensors to enable remote monitoring and automation of GSS. The increased design flexibility can reduce labour and time cost; improving health and decreasing environmental impact during production.
Navantia Australia
Rapido has collaborated closely with Navantia Australia since mid-2020 to deliver R&D projects, with ongoing collaborations around digital twin, ship routing, training gamification, situational awareness systems, and anomaly detection using deep learning models. Our software and UX teams are at the forefront of our collaboration, with the aim of developing sovereign digital technologies for the maritime industry. This partnership led to a bigger collaboration between UTS and Navantia Australia, culminating in the joint institute: Marintec - the Maritime Institute of Technology.
Quokka Quantum
The Rapido software and mechatronics team assisted academics Christopher Ferrie and Simon Devitt on the early prototype that paved the way to the first consumer-friendly quantum computer. This project is a great example of research translation, that led to a blending of sophisticated mechatronics and robust software engineering. From developing a quantum simulator on a Raspberry Pi to crafting an intuitive cross-platform mobile app and an elegant aluminium enclosure, our team demonstrated the power of having multiple R&D capabilities under one roof; software, mechatronics and digital services expertise. Learn more about Quokka Quantum.
Omnia Wheel (Rotacaster)
Rapido helped develop an efficient multi-directional, modular conveyor transfer station using omni-directional wheels to replace current larger, single-direction, industry standard transfer stations. The Rapido team used omni-directional wheels with minimal wheel space to guarantee efficient and accurate manipulation. We also embedded light sensors to execute dynamic manipulation processes. The compact, modular design allowed for custom, situational conveyor builds that are now sold globally. Learn more about the Omnia Wheel project.
Zurich
A data-driven software project to help understand customers and enhance proactive health services. The team used AI to build advanced predictive data models and machine learning to identify potential uncollected data that can be overlaid to support decision-making and inform proactive health strategies. This project offers Zurich the opportunity to quickly and reliably assess health risks and offer pre-emptive wellbeing strategies. This project aims to harness data to optimise the health of Zurich's customer base and revolutionise health services in the insurance industry.
Gender Affirming Voice Wearables
As part of the investigator team, Rapido explored the potential of wearable technology in gender-affirming voice and communication. Our UX research team worked with UTS academics to develop a pilot study to assess who is interested in such technologies, if wearable tech is acceptable for real-time feedback on voice, if it can minimise misgendering and enhance voice training goals, as well as identifying required design and use factors to help guide future research and co-design.
Transgrid
A detailed circuit and mechanical design project that aims to give remote communities a new way to power telecommunication devices. This R&D project includes a robust feasibility study on energy harvesting for telecommunication devices. The team developed a prototype to optimise energy harvesting from the electromagnetic field surrounding high voltage transmission lines – eliminating the necessity for a direct physical connection. The project is ongoing and we hope will pave the way for new energy sources for remote communities.
Water Co
The task was to transform the multi-franchise pool manufacturer into a united, cloud-optimised business with integrated IoT technology, data analytics and the potential for remote pool monitoring. Rapido developed an active interconnected cloud interface with added data analytics and a pool maintenance booking system to ease the maintenance process for customers and franchisees.
Downer - Dwell Track
We assisted rail operators to maintain the on-time running of trains by providing insights into commuter movements on/off trains and along the platform edge. Leveraging algorithms developed by researchers in the Centre for Autonomous Systems (CAS), Rapido designed and built a hardware and software platform that tracks individuals in densely populated crowds using 3D sensing. A real-time dashboard was created to aggregate commuter movements with train information; providing platform staff with a single source of information to better manage train departures.
PolySpine
PolySpine aims to transform the lives of people with moderate to severe physical disability, opening the door to beach trips, aeroplane flights, canoeing excursions and more. Working with a prototype of the exoskeleton, the Rapido engineering team mapped out a plan for PolySpine’s Conformity Assessment — to demonstrate compliance with the TGA’s essential safety and performance principles — leveraging the specialised labs and equipment available at UTS. This led to PolySpine successfully taking their product to market. Learn more about PolySpine.
FlexiFab 3D Printer
A UTS student designed an open research platform 3D printer, which is capable of multiple additive manufacturing processes with modular construction and a tilting bed. The tilting bed strengthens construction by allowing better control of material grain structure. By reducing the need for printing supports and print time, it means that costs and post processing activities are all reduced. Its continuing development and open design encourages further research and application into additive manufacturing.
SPEE3D Printer
Efficient 3D printing with metal? This project innovates in the area of metal 3D printing in a way that is cost-effective, and friendly towards large-scale manufacturing. This revolutionary method replaces traditional metal manufacturing casting by 3D printing, using metal powder. Rapido used 'machine vision' and 3D scanning to automate the refining process of 3D printing – ultimately leading to the minimisation of post processing work. Learn more about the SPEE3D Printer.
Orion Consulting
This project to detect public infrastructure from existing drone footage using computer vision techniques, drastically reduced the cost of human effort to map, locate and model public assets. The team developed automatic object detection algorithms with AI capability to detect NBN pits, storm water drains and electrical pillars. Objects were localised in 3D using Metashape commercial software.
More Stories of Social Impact
Since 2017, Rapido has donated significant time and resource to purposeful organisations to create positive change. Whether you’re an NFP, a for-profit, or any other socially-conscious organisation, Rapido can provide world leading technological expertise and facilities, to develop cutting edge products and services. Read more about our Social Impact stories here.