Technology News

Insitu Pacific Excursion

In the last week of Term, students from our Robotics and Defence STEM programs were fortunate to visit Insitu Pacific in Alderley. Insitu Pacific is a subsidiary of The Boeing Company and provides uncrewed aircraft systems and services to defence and commercial customers in the Asia-Pacific region.

The students were given a brief on Insitu's uncrewed aircraft systems and were lucky enough to receive a tour of the production facilities and see the 'drones' up close.

Interacting with members of Insitu Pacific's graduate program was also a highlight. The graduates introduced the boys to the education pathways which would enable them to build the autonomous systems of the future.

Overall, a fabulous experience for the boys to experience the defence and aerospace opportunities available to them here in Australia.

For secondary students with an interest in Robotics and Autonomous Systems (RAS), the RAS Club runs on Thursday afternoons from 3:15pm-5:00pm. Students undertake a range of activities including:

• building and programming Lego robots for competitions later in the year
• programming the club's drones for autonomous flight
• manual flying of small drones
• building small kit drones

Please email Mr Richard Aplin if you are interested in joining (aplinr@marash.qld.edu.au).

Certificate II Engineering Pathways - Formula Student Update

The Easter holiday was a great time to recharge student and teacher batteries but also an ideal time to transform our Trade Training Centre into a portable spray booth. A simple 6x3 metre gazebo was the perfect-sized enclosure to confine the spray and limit the dust from entering. The fibreglass shell had been carefully sanded back by the Year 12 Engineering students over the past two weeks prior to the recent holiday break. This process was completed by applying many coats of spray body filler and then rubbing back with water and 400-800-1200 wet and dry sandpaper to safely prepare the surface for painting.

The shell received a well-earned new base coat in preparation for the wrap, which is the next big step on our journey to Lakeside this year.

Richard Blinco from Workshop 28 was the professional spray painter who came on board, with his company donating $600.00 worth of paint and four hours of his valuable time last Saturday morning. This new base coat was applied in preparation for the awesome Marist College wrap (soon to be revealed), which is the next big step on our journey to Lakeside this year. Workshop 28 are composite specialists who specialise in marine architecture customised fit-outs, which also includes professional finishes and spray painting. We cannot thank Richard and his company enough for his time, resources, and effort. His dedication to our project will ensure that our race car will stand out from the rest. Stay tuned for the next race car update in our next College Newsletter.

https://www.workshop28.com.au/