In this episode of @AuManufacturing Conversations with Brent Balinski, we hear from Xavier Orr, co-founder and co-CEO of Advanced Navigation.

Episode Guide

0.25 – Neural network-based navigation systems based on PhD research.
1:35 – Deciding on a stream at university while studying mechatronics and computer science.
2:12 – The big idea: a neural network-based alternative to the Kalman filter. 
3:40 – Starting the company with co-founder Chris Shaw.
4:56 – Why they chose the co-CEO model. “You can cover double the territory” but it requires a deep level of trust.
5:51 – The first product, landing their breakthrough customer – Bombardier – about half a year after getting started, and what was behind getting acceptance by the market.
7:44 – Bootstrapping the company with loans and credit cards and getting their first major investor – Our Innovation Fund – about five years in. 
8:55 – Taking “a little bit of an unusual path” in not relying on mentors when getting started.
9:50 – The secret to their healthy-sized venture funding rounds.
10:50 – Different sites: two facilities in Sydney, photonics in Canberra, radio research in Newcastle, UAV research facility in Brisbane and Perth underwater research and manufacturing facility.
11:28 – Size and capacity of the company.
12:10 – The benefits of shared infrastructure at UTS Tech Lab.
13:40 – The major projects Advanced Navigation is working on now.
15:35 – Moon mission
16:26 – Dealing with radiation and vacuum in developing lidav for space.
17:22 – Only four companies in the world can make strategic-grade fibre optic gyroscopes.
18:46 – Supply chain considerations.
20:26 – What steers R&D and how.
22:20 – Why their collaborations with universities have been successful. Where have things fallen over in other instances, what’s different for Advanced Navigation, and what was the role of IP arrangements.
24:02 – The talent shortage and how they’ve addressed this.
24:50 – What their workforce looks like.
25:30 – High-tech is the key for re-growing manufacturing here.

Relevant links
Advanced Navigation's website
Advanced Navigation opens Sydney robotics facility
Advanced Navigation, Quantx Labs among seven defence grant recipients
Advanced Navigation unveils subsea robotics centre
Advanced Navigation to ensure safe Australian moon landing
Advanced Navigation aims to be first Australian to the Moon