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
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
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
Mobility and Location Information providing Social Equality for Blind and Vision Impaired persons. Providing reliable situational information to the blind and visually impaired (BVI) can deliver far greater independence. Confidence and autonomy will result from knowing where they are, what is in that location, how to go to the destination and the location related information. This will not only save a significant welfare costs but will also provide social equality to BVI. The underlying technolo ....Mobility and Location Information providing Social Equality for Blind and Vision Impaired persons. Providing reliable situational information to the blind and visually impaired (BVI) can deliver far greater independence. Confidence and autonomy will result from knowing where they are, what is in that location, how to go to the destination and the location related information. This will not only save a significant welfare costs but will also provide social equality to BVI. The underlying technology can also readily be extended to other socially useful and profitable applications.Read moreRead less
Technology platform for noninvasive measurement of intracranial pressure. The project aims to investigate a technology platform for noninvasive measurement of fluid pressure in the brain to improve assessment of brain function. Engineering approaches will aim to characterise the relationships between arterial and intracranial pressure from experimental data, computational models and signal processing of noninvasive blood pressure in the aorta, pressure in the eye and blood flow in brain and reti ....Technology platform for noninvasive measurement of intracranial pressure. The project aims to investigate a technology platform for noninvasive measurement of fluid pressure in the brain to improve assessment of brain function. Engineering approaches will aim to characterise the relationships between arterial and intracranial pressure from experimental data, computational models and signal processing of noninvasive blood pressure in the aorta, pressure in the eye and blood flow in brain and retinal vessels. Findings are expected to produce novel engineering advances in development of techniques and devices for intracranial pressure measurement, a procedure currently limited to high-risk invasive methods.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
Optimal Transcutaneous Energy Transmission System (TETS) for an Implanted Artificial Heart. This project aims to devise the best way to get electrical power to devices implanted in the human body. The immediate application, the VentrAssist artificial heart, is under pilot trial, in three people to date. In the trial model, the electric lead passes through a hole in the skin, which poses a high infection risk. This project will research a novel, provisionally patented method of inductively transm ....Optimal Transcutaneous Energy Transmission System (TETS) for an Implanted Artificial Heart. This project aims to devise the best way to get electrical power to devices implanted in the human body. The immediate application, the VentrAssist artificial heart, is under pilot trial, in three people to date. In the trial model, the electric lead passes through a hole in the skin, which poses a high infection risk. This project will research a novel, provisionally patented method of inductively transmitting power and signals across the skin, exploiting new ferromagnetic materials, biocompatible coatings and software-controlled electronic circuits. The method should be efficient, secure and infection-proof, with world market potential for all powered medical implants.Read moreRead less