Large-scale Indoor Robotics Test Arena (LIRTA)
Who we are
The Large-scale Indoor Robotics Test Arena (LIRTA) is a flagship facility within the UNSW Canberra City innovation precinct. We leverage UNSW’s internationally recognised expertise in AI and robotics to bring together industry leaders, defence innovators, researchers, students, and deep-tech entrepreneurs to solve real-world problems in autonomous systems, robotics and artificial intelligence.
LIRTA is one of the largest indoor test flight facilities in Australia. We provide a fully netted, motion-capture-enabled indoor environment for high-precision experimentation. This state-of-the-art infrastructure is accelerating the development, testing and scaling of advanced autonomous platforms and human-machine interaction.
Funding partners
UNSW Canberra City
LIRTA is part of UNSW Canberra City – our collaborative innovation ecosystem – where shared facilities and co-working spaces bring together researchers, industry partners, entrepreneurs and students to rapidly move ideas from design to real-world application.
Capabilities
Our equipment
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A massive, fully netted and controlled physical environment designed specifically for Uncrewed Aerial Systems (UAS) and robotics testing.
The test area is 15m x 18.5m, providing around 280m2 of floor space for ground vehicle testing. Our camera system is mounted 6m high to create a volume of 1665m3 for aerial vehicle testing.
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The VICON Advanced Motion Capture System is a high-precision optical tracking solution comprising 19 infrared cameras arranged within a controlled laboratory environment, covering a cross-sectional capture area of approximately 280 m². The multi-camera configuration enables millimetre-level spatial accuracy through synchronised, real-time tracking of reflective markers or active tracking devices.
The system provides robust, low-latency 3D positional and kinematic data acquisition, making it suitable for advanced research and development applications. These include autonomous systems validation, human–robot interaction studies, robotics navigation and control, biomechanical analysis, and performance characterisation.
By delivering precise motion reconstruction and real-time data streaming capabilities, the VICON system supports detailed trajectory analysis, dynamic modelling, ground-truth validation for sensor fusion algorithms, and quantitative assessment of complex motion behaviours in both human and robotic systems.
Our people
How to access
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Contact our team to discuss your technology, project objectives and how LIRTA’s capabilities may support your work.
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We will work with you to understand your testing requirements, project goals and identify the most suitable access or partnership model.
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Once the scope of work is agreed, we will confirm facility access, technical requirements and scheduling.
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Following a safety and facility induction, your team will be authorised to access the arena and schedule testing within LIRTA.
Fees
Costs are determined on a case‑by‑case basis. Please get in touch to discuss a tailored solution that best matches your individual or organisational requirements.
Contact us
We invite you to experience our innovation precinct firsthand. Reach out to our team today to discuss your strategic goals and arrange a tour of UNSW Canberra City and our facilities.
We like to hear from you. If you have questions, requests or ideas for collaboration, please complete the contact form and we will be in touch within five business days.
Get in touch about your project
We offer a range of services that can be tailored to your needs. Please send us an enquiry to get started.
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