Sensor Prototyping Hub

July 24th, 2023

Andrew Filisetti, lead for the Sensor Prototyping Hub for the AS FSP, shares his vision for an engineering hub that brings together facilities and capabilities across CSIRO.

With a background in mechanical engineering and bespoke equipment design, Andrew Filisetti is heading up the Sensor Prototyping Hub for the Autonomous Sensors Future Science Platform (AS FSP).

What is the Sensor Prototyping Hub?
The Hub is an experimental and new approach within CSIRO to leverage and foster engineering capabilities, enabling the acceleration of Horizon 3 research from the laboratory to the field.

The Hub is a virtual space that unites a number of physical locations across our many sites.

It will bring together capabilities and internal facilities across CSIRO to deliver prototypes of lab-based technologies to accelerate field testing and technology iteration for faster commercialisation and realisation of impact.

How do you see the Hub being used?
The Hub will be a place where researchers can bring ideas, not yet fully developed, to build prototype sensors using the resources available through various business units and knowledge and skills developed by our engineers.

I want to create a collaborative culture. I want to encourage people who come to the Hub to share their expertise and leverage what we learn from our mistakes and successes to accelerate innovation.

What is happening in the Hub now?
The Hub is new, and I am focused on that initial set-up. At the moment I am capability mapping; assessing where our resources exist and looking for gaps which need to be filled to meet current project objectives, as well as future planning.

I’m also excited about the recruitment of six new Early Career Engineers into the Hub. These roles will bring vital engineering skills to facilitate our prototyping success.

I expect the first prototypes out of the Hub will be for building novel sensors and packaging sensors onto usable platforms in support of the existing portfolio of FSP projects.

As well as leading the Hub, I’m also a project leader in the FSP. I’ll be developing autonomous sensors for deployment in marine environments so suspect I will be one of the first users.

Our initial focus is on supporting the sensors technology development for the AS FSP.

However, we will be able to offer funding for up to six new projects from across CSIRO in the future.

Contact Andrew or check out our website for more information.

Article written by Keirissa Lawson; Communications Advisor for the AS FSP.