Vertrex has developed an award-winning novel multi-system process that demilitarises artillery rounds, remotely interrogates fuzes fitted to projectiles then delivers for them for reuse or disposal.
The safe and purpose-designed system uses robotic handling and vision systems, along with X-ray technology, to individually decant artillery rounds from their packaging, de-fuze the projectile and interrogate the arming state of a large quantity of 105mm artillery rounds.
Safety is the main priority of Project Damocles, which brings together numerous technologies to automate the process and safely solve a long-standing problem for the Australian Department of Defence.
Defence reengaged Vertrex to develop an innovative system to automate the process to remotely remediate items with the potential to detonate if moved.
The equipment used to complete the project is operated remotely and moves pallets of ammunition within storehouses, conveys them to a process area for extraction of ammunition boxes from pallets. Ammunition tubes containing the rounds are then removed from the boxes and the projectile is removed from the inner packaging (tubes), with the equipment then being used to remove the fuze.
The fuze is positioned for X-ray where it is determined to be in the ‘armed’ or ‘unarmed’ state, then repacked or sent to disposal.
Vertrex was recognised for its work on Project Damocles in the prestigious Industry Land Forces 2022 Innovation Awards, winning the National Innovation Award and the SME Innovation Award categories.
