Next Generation Grid Enabled Cluster Computers: Performance Optimisation for e-Science. In partnership with a local computer company this project will develop cost effective cluster computing solutions assembled from off-the-shelf parts for $50,000-$200,000. This price range is currently relatively poorly serviced by the multinational computer vendors, who tend to focus on the high density compute systems necessary for very large cluster systems. As a consequence the development of high performa ....Next Generation Grid Enabled Cluster Computers: Performance Optimisation for e-Science. In partnership with a local computer company this project will develop cost effective cluster computing solutions assembled from off-the-shelf parts for $50,000-$200,000. This price range is currently relatively poorly serviced by the multinational computer vendors, who tend to focus on the high density compute systems necessary for very large cluster systems. As a consequence the development of high performance computing in Australia has been somewhat stifled compared to the US or UK, where there exist small niche companies servicing this market sector. This project aims to change this, developing affordable high performance cluster computing systems for the Australian market place and beyond.Read moreRead less
Towards a high density silicon phase change memory device. This project builds upon our exciting recent findings that amorphous silicon can be transformed to a conducting crystalline phase following small-scale indentation. Furthermore the process is reversible as re-indentation can induce a transformation back to insulating amorphous silicon. This process appears to occur in extremely small (nanoscale) volumes of silicon. We plan to explore the viability of exploiting this behaviour to develo ....Towards a high density silicon phase change memory device. This project builds upon our exciting recent findings that amorphous silicon can be transformed to a conducting crystalline phase following small-scale indentation. Furthermore the process is reversible as re-indentation can induce a transformation back to insulating amorphous silicon. This process appears to occur in extremely small (nanoscale) volumes of silicon. We plan to explore the viability of exploiting this behaviour to develop an entirely new information storage system: a high-density silicon phase change memory. This project aims to study small-scale transformation behaviour in silicon and to design demonstrator memory devices based on both micro-electromechanical systems and solid state technologies.Read moreRead less
Reconfigurable System-on-Chip for Computer Network Appliances. As Internet connectivity becomes ubiquitous, so does the need for computer network security. As algorithms become more sophisticated, and network speeds increase, software-only implementations of network security applications become less feasible on small, embedded network appliances. This project investigates new computer architectures, based on reconfigurable System-on-Chip technology, which can improve algorithm speed through sp ....Reconfigurable System-on-Chip for Computer Network Appliances. As Internet connectivity becomes ubiquitous, so does the need for computer network security. As algorithms become more sophisticated, and network speeds increase, software-only implementations of network security applications become less feasible on small, embedded network appliances. This project investigates new computer architectures, based on reconfigurable System-on-Chip technology, which can improve algorithm speed through specialised instruction sets, hardware accelerators, and parallel processing. Research outcomes will be commercialised by the project's industry partner - a global leader in low-cost network security appliances.Read moreRead less
FPGA Controller Architectures for Safety Critical Applications. The project industry partner, Invensys Rail Systems, has a major design group in Australia, who work with railway signalling systems throughout the world. Invensys are keen to adopt new technologies to more efficiently and effectively implement signalling functions. However, the safety-critical nature of railway signalling means that any new technology must be analysed in detail to bring it to an acceptable technical readiness lev ....FPGA Controller Architectures for Safety Critical Applications. The project industry partner, Invensys Rail Systems, has a major design group in Australia, who work with railway signalling systems throughout the world. Invensys are keen to adopt new technologies to more efficiently and effectively implement signalling functions. However, the safety-critical nature of railway signalling means that any new technology must be analysed in detail to bring it to an acceptable technical readiness level. The outcomes of this research will be an improved technical readiness level for FPGAs in signalling systems, and this will allow Invensys' Australian design group to develop new technologies and allow them to compete more effectively in the global marketplace.Read moreRead less
An Economical, Robust Alternative Braille Transcription Device. The Curtin University Brailler (CUB). Braille is an important language used by the blind to read and write and Braillers are needed for everyday communication. This justifies the development of a light weight, transportable unit that is accessible at all times. This project proposes a relatively inexpensive, light weight, reliable and easily maintained Braille transcription system. The significant aspects of the proposed brailler in ....An Economical, Robust Alternative Braille Transcription Device. The Curtin University Brailler (CUB). Braille is an important language used by the blind to read and write and Braillers are needed for everyday communication. This justifies the development of a light weight, transportable unit that is accessible at all times. This project proposes a relatively inexpensive, light weight, reliable and easily maintained Braille transcription system. The significant aspects of the proposed brailler include;
- An Electromagnetically compatable (EMC)12 Volt Power Supply allowing the common car battery as a backup power source.
- Use of modern plastics (PTFE) to reduce weight, maintenance and EMC standards.
- An embedded system for Forward and Back translation of literary Braille
- Protocol development and specification for USB keyboard and (standard) printer.Read moreRead less
Multi-channel reconfigurable high dynamic range digital receivers. Wireless communication systems have important defence and commercial applications, most obviously in the form of the mobile telephone network. Future wireless systems will require much higher levels of performance, in the form of ability to receive and distinguish signals from multiple sources that are physically close together and transmit on similar frequencies.
In this project we will develop a test system that will allow us ....Multi-channel reconfigurable high dynamic range digital receivers. Wireless communication systems have important defence and commercial applications, most obviously in the form of the mobile telephone network. Future wireless systems will require much higher levels of performance, in the form of ability to receive and distinguish signals from multiple sources that are physically close together and transmit on similar frequencies.
In this project we will develop a test system that will allow us to undertake research on new algorithms that will achieve these higher levels of performance. Our objective is to demonstrate dramatic improvements in the capabilities of receivers for future generation mobile phone and defence surveillance systems.
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Robotic Inspection and Safe Removals of Suspicious/Abandoned Luggage. Abandoned luggage 'discovered' at airports and other sites by iOmniscient's video surveillance system maycontain explosive, dangerous chemicals or lethal biological agents. This project is about using sensor equipped robots to inspect this luggage by x-ray and other means (e.g.: ultrasound or electromagnetic sensors) and then, if appropriate, to remove it to a safe disposal area so as to minimise the risk to others sharing th ....Robotic Inspection and Safe Removals of Suspicious/Abandoned Luggage. Abandoned luggage 'discovered' at airports and other sites by iOmniscient's video surveillance system maycontain explosive, dangerous chemicals or lethal biological agents. This project is about using sensor equipped robots to inspect this luggage by x-ray and other means (e.g.: ultrasound or electromagnetic sensors) and then, if appropriate, to remove it to a safe disposal area so as to minimise the risk to others sharing this public space and those personnel responsible for security operations. iOmniscient Pty.Ltd., as the industrial partner, clearly has a commercial interest in the success of this project and thus is strongly motivated to support it.Read moreRead less
Robotic Vehicles for Fire Fighting and Emergency Services Support. The use of robots to support humans in bushfire fighting, search and rescue missions, civil disaster operations and terrorist apprehension (including hostage rescue) can save lives, minimise injury and improve security. This project aims at providing such capabilities and to deploy them in modes from direct teleoperation to fully autonomous operation as the situation dictates, in full partnership with the Victorian Country Fire A ....Robotic Vehicles for Fire Fighting and Emergency Services Support. The use of robots to support humans in bushfire fighting, search and rescue missions, civil disaster operations and terrorist apprehension (including hostage rescue) can save lives, minimise injury and improve security. This project aims at providing such capabilities and to deploy them in modes from direct teleoperation to fully autonomous operation as the situation dictates, in full partnership with the Victorian Country Fire Authority.Read moreRead less
Hardware Verification Techniques for Complex High Performance Systems-on-a-chip. Verifying the correctness of modern integrated circuit designs is a critical success factor from both economic and technological perspectives. Rapid advances in semiconductor manufacturing technology are not matched by similar gains in hardware design verification methodology. This creates a widening verification gap that threatens the viability of future complex integrated circuits. This project aims to address th ....Hardware Verification Techniques for Complex High Performance Systems-on-a-chip. Verifying the correctness of modern integrated circuit designs is a critical success factor from both economic and technological perspectives. Rapid advances in semiconductor manufacturing technology are not matched by similar gains in hardware design verification methodology. This creates a widening verification gap that threatens the viability of future complex integrated circuits. This project aims to address this issue by developing novel hardware verification techniques targeting complex high performance systems-on-a-chip. The research outcome will be a set of verification techniques and tools that directly benefit the advancement of future integrated circuit development, verification and manufacturing.Read moreRead less
Fish-Bird: Autonomous Interactions in a Contemporary Arts Setting. This research aims to investigate and expand the dialogical possibilities that exist between multiple autokinetic objects within a new media arts environment. Communication between the objects, and with their audience, will be explored through the modalities of gesture, motion and written text. A new aesthetic framework for interactive artwork will be created through research into autokinesis and the behavioural patterns that evo ....Fish-Bird: Autonomous Interactions in a Contemporary Arts Setting. This research aims to investigate and expand the dialogical possibilities that exist between multiple autokinetic objects within a new media arts environment. Communication between the objects, and with their audience, will be explored through the modalities of gesture, motion and written text. A new aesthetic framework for interactive artwork will be created through research into autokinesis and the behavioural patterns that evolve between people and autokinetic machines. Outcomes will include a major artwork in three stages, underpinned by a robotics software tool set that facilitates composition and experimentation with autokinetic artwork.Read moreRead less