Let's talk robotics with Colonel Robin Smith OBE CSC

Joining me today (129) is Colonel Robin Smith, OBE CSC.

Robin Smith is the inaugural Director of the Army’s Robotic & Autonomous Systems Implementation & Coordination Office (RICO) within Future Land Warfare Branch of the Australian Army HQ. RICO’s role is to inspire, innovate, educate and lead the exploration of the application of emerging and disruptive technology for Army, including autonomy and AI, Quantum Technologies and alternative power and energy. He has overseen Army’s exploration of autonomous systems since 2017 after he authored the first Australian Army Robotic and Autonomous Systems Strategy.

He is a logistician by background and served for over 30 years in the British Army before transferring to the Australian Army in 2017. He has commanded at all levels up to and including Regimental level and deployed a number of times. He was made an Officer of the Order of British Empire (OBE) in 2013 and awarded the Conspicuous Service Cross (CSC) in 2022. He has a background in Electronic Engineering and has fulfilled a number of roles in the Joint logistics domain at the tactical and operational levels.