Australian engineering innovations: #1

Flight data recorder/black box (1950s)

Dr David Warren, Defence Science and Technology Organisation

You’ve probably heard of a black box or, as it’s officially known, a flight data recorder. What you may not know is that it was invented in Melbourne by Dr David Warren of the Defence Science and Technology Organisation. Flight data recorders are designed to capture flight instrument activity and audio from the cockpit, and they have proven invaluable in providing insights into the cause of crashes and the final moments before disaster.