Professor Rod Walker was a pioneer in the field of civilian use of unmanned aircraft systems. He was the founding director of the Australian Research Centre for Aerospace Automation (ARCAA), the co-founder of the annual UAV Challenge competition, founding board member of AUVS-Australia and respected researcher and educator at Queensland University of Technology (QUT).

ARCAA director Professor Duncan Campbell said Professor Walker passed away in 2011 before his dream of seeing everyday use of civilian unmanned aircraft was realised.

"Rod was passionate about the use of civilian unmanned aircraft in applications that would benefit all Australians, such as search and rescue, bush fire fighting, emergency response and automated airborne parcel delivery to remote and rural areas," he said.

"For more than a decade Rod led industry, government, and academia in addressing the many technical and regulatory challenges facing the realisation of his vision."

Professor Campbell said the Rod Walker Memorial Endowment Fund was established to ensure Professor Walker's vision would be realised, and to provide lasting recognition of his significant contributions to the industry.

"The fund will offer awards and incentives to those individuals and organisations that demonstrate excellence in forwarding the civil unmanned aircraft systems industry," he said.

"It aims to inspire and motivate people to continue to address the technical and social challenges facing the civil unmanned aircraft systems industry."

AUVSI chairman Peter Bale said, "AUVSI is very pleased to donate to Rod's Memorial Fund."

"Rod was a leader in his field, an advocate for the use of unmanned systems to improve people's lives and he is sorely missed," Mr Bale said.

"Rod's passion and drive were instrumental to this industry on so many fronts across the globe."

Professor Campbell said the donation from AUVSI and the AUVSI Foundation to the Rod Walker Memorial Fund was much appreciated.

"It demonstrates the importance of recognising those who demonstrate excellence towards the realisation of Rod's vision for civil unmanned aircraft systems," he said.

Details of the Endowment Fund and how you can donate can be found here:
http://www.arcaa.aero/about-arcaa/rodwalkerfund/

For more information contact Professor Duncan Campbell on 0419 121 413 or email him at da.campbell@qut.edu.au

Media contacts: Rose Trapnell, QUT media team leader, 07 3138 2361 or 0407 585 901 rose.trapnell@qut.edu.au.

(L-R): Professor Duncan Campbell (ARCAA Director), Mr Peter Bale (AUVSI Chairman), Dr Jonathan Roberts (ARCAA Deputy Director).