- Black box flight recorder invented by Dr David Warren, an Australian scientist in 1958. This important invention is used to record the final moments of a flight before it has crashed, recording the final conversations and events before an aircraft crash, helping researchers find the cause.
- The electric drill was first patented by Arthur James Arnot, an electrical engineer in 1889. The early model was used for drilling rocks and digging for coal, but this became the standard model for portable hand drills used globally today.
- Another aircraft innovation invented by an Australian was the inflatable escape slide, developed by Jack Grant, a QANTAS airline employee in 1965. Today, this safety equipment is used by all major airlines and can also be utilised as a life raft if the plane lands on water.
- David Robinson and George Kossoff invented the first commercial ultrasound scanner in the world in 1961. This development came about due to growing concerns about the effects of x-rays on pregnant women. Ultrasounds not only help to observe a fetus without the harm of radiation, but for identifying other medical problems as well.
- Polymer or plastic banknotes are a notable Aussie invention. Developed through a joint venture between the CSIRO and the Reserve Bank of Australia, this technology makes it difficult to produce counterfeit notes while prolonging the lifespan of notes in comparison to traditional paper notes.
