Robust Control and System Identification of Highly Resonant Systems. The modelling and control of complex and highly resonant systems is of increasing engineering importance due to their occurence in a wide variety of emerging areas in aerospace, acoustics, robotics and ``smart'' structures. At the same time, effective tools tailored towards identifying the necessary models, and synthesising the necessary controllers for these systems are in their infancy. This arises from special difficulties ....Robust Control and System Identification of Highly Resonant Systems. The modelling and control of complex and highly resonant systems is of increasing engineering importance due to their occurence in a wide variety of emerging areas in aerospace, acoustics, robotics and ``smart'' structures. At the same time, effective tools tailored towards identifying the necessary models, and synthesising the necessary controllers for these systems are in their infancy. This arises from special difficulties encountered via the high dimensionality of the structures involved. This research project will employ new methods from the fields of robust control and multivariable system identification theory to lead to new and high performance solutions in this area.Read moreRead less
Biomedical imaging with spins in nanoparticles: from single cell to whole-body scanning. The engineering of new biomedical technology is critical in underpinning our understanding of physiology and in the early detection of disease. This project will construct novel instrumentation for investigating normal and diseased physiology using bioagents based on diamond and ruby nanoparticles. The imaging and tracking techniques proposed are non-invasive, nontoxic, and provide high-resolution access to ....Biomedical imaging with spins in nanoparticles: from single cell to whole-body scanning. The engineering of new biomedical technology is critical in underpinning our understanding of physiology and in the early detection of disease. This project will construct novel instrumentation for investigating normal and diseased physiology using bioagents based on diamond and ruby nanoparticles. The imaging and tracking techniques proposed are non-invasive, nontoxic, and provide high-resolution access to specific physiological interactions of paramount importance in, for instance, understanding cancer pathways and developing strategies for targeted drug delivery.Read moreRead less
MICROWAVE SENSORS BASED ON MULTI-LAYER MICROSTRIP PATCH RESONATORS AND LINE RESONATORS. Inexpensive, easy-to-use, accurate, sensitive and compact sensor systems are needed to improve the quality of many agricultural and industrial products. For example, edible oil industry needs such a system to determine the water content in the seeds used for edible oil. Similarly, the measurement of moisture content is crucial for quality control and grading of industrial oils, paints, health products and man ....MICROWAVE SENSORS BASED ON MULTI-LAYER MICROSTRIP PATCH RESONATORS AND LINE RESONATORS. Inexpensive, easy-to-use, accurate, sensitive and compact sensor systems are needed to improve the quality of many agricultural and industrial products. For example, edible oil industry needs such a system to determine the water content in the seeds used for edible oil. Similarly, the measurement of moisture content is crucial for quality control and grading of industrial oils, paints, health products and many industrial sheets. We develop novel microwave sensor systems, based on multi-layer microstrip resonators, for such measurements of materials in the form of sheets, pastes, liquids or powders. They are also attractive for scientific applications such as monitoring the doping concentration of semiconductor materials.Read moreRead less
Better emitters, enhanced optics, superior detectors: advancing terahertz science and technology for applications in medicine, agriculture, industry and national security. We will start with a new fundamental study of the interaction of light and matter to explicate the phenomena of the emission, transmission and detection of terahertz electromagnetic radiation. Using our increased understanding of terahertz science, we will then engineer better terahertz sources, optics, and sensors. Better ter ....Better emitters, enhanced optics, superior detectors: advancing terahertz science and technology for applications in medicine, agriculture, industry and national security. We will start with a new fundamental study of the interaction of light and matter to explicate the phenomena of the emission, transmission and detection of terahertz electromagnetic radiation. Using our increased understanding of terahertz science, we will then engineer better terahertz sources, optics, and sensors. Better terahertz technology will open up new applications in medical diagnosis, especially dermatology; industrial productivity, such as quality control; and the detection of contraband, including illicit drugs and explosives. In maintaining good health, transforming industries and safeguarding Australia, advanced terahertz systems will bring the nation health, economic and security benefits.Read moreRead less
High Efficiency Terahertz Emitters. Between microwaves and visible light lies the terahertz gap - the least explored region of the electromagnetic spectrum. Yet the THz region is precisely where many materials exhibit characteristic signatures that allow them to be detected and identified. For example, anthrax, explosives, water, DNA, plastics, and carcinomas all have distinctive THz signatures. THz methods are revolutionizing medicine, agriculture, industry, and national security. Wider appl ....High Efficiency Terahertz Emitters. Between microwaves and visible light lies the terahertz gap - the least explored region of the electromagnetic spectrum. Yet the THz region is precisely where many materials exhibit characteristic signatures that allow them to be detected and identified. For example, anthrax, explosives, water, DNA, plastics, and carcinomas all have distinctive THz signatures. THz methods are revolutionizing medicine, agriculture, industry, and national security. Wider application is hampered by the lack of powerful sources of THz radiation. We aim to develop more efficient emitters of THz radiation. The national economy, security, and well-being will benefit.Read moreRead less
Manipulation of Biological Particles Using Dielectrophoresis. Dielectrophoretic manipulation and separation of particles has numerous biological and medical applications, e.g. identification and characterisation of individual cells, purification of cell subpopulations from mixture suspensions, etc. This research project aims to develop a high-efficiency and low-cost DEP device for bio-particle manipulation. It will contribute significantly to the advancements in the field of biological Micro-Ele ....Manipulation of Biological Particles Using Dielectrophoresis. Dielectrophoretic manipulation and separation of particles has numerous biological and medical applications, e.g. identification and characterisation of individual cells, purification of cell subpopulations from mixture suspensions, etc. This research project aims to develop a high-efficiency and low-cost DEP device for bio-particle manipulation. It will contribute significantly to the advancements in the field of biological Micro-Electrical-Mechanical-Systems (MEMS) and nanotechnology. Industry will benefit from the expertise on micro/nano-structures and micro/nano-manufacturing achieved by this project.Read moreRead less
A combined inertial, satellite & terrestrial signal navigation device for high accuracy positioning & orientation of underground imaging systems. The 'holy grail' of the mapping community is ubiquitous, cm-level accuracy positioning/orientation in all outdoor environments with a minimum installed infrastructure and operational complexity. There is currently no system able to address such needs. The integration of an Australian-developed technology within the standard GPS/inertial navigation conf ....A combined inertial, satellite & terrestrial signal navigation device for high accuracy positioning & orientation of underground imaging systems. The 'holy grail' of the mapping community is ubiquitous, cm-level accuracy positioning/orientation in all outdoor environments with a minimum installed infrastructure and operational complexity. There is currently no system able to address such needs. The integration of an Australian-developed technology within the standard GPS/inertial navigation configuration would be a truly ground-breaking achievement. This would represent a significant enhancement of Australia's capacity to develop high-value navigation products and services, and the proposed project outcomes align closely with National Research Priority 3, and address the 'Frontier Technologies and Smart Information Use' priority goals.Read moreRead less
Advanced computational techniques for micro/nano multiscale systems of NEMS/BioMEMS. The outcome of this project will have the following benefits to Australia.
1) It will improve the research level in the area of multiscale simulation of NEMS/BioMEMS;
2) The project will be beneficial to possibly establish new industries in the areas of nanotechnology as well as to make good use of today's microelectronics, mircofabrication and computer technology that have already established in Australia;
....Advanced computational techniques for micro/nano multiscale systems of NEMS/BioMEMS. The outcome of this project will have the following benefits to Australia.
1) It will improve the research level in the area of multiscale simulation of NEMS/BioMEMS;
2) The project will be beneficial to possibly establish new industries in the areas of nanotechnology as well as to make good use of today's microelectronics, mircofabrication and computer technology that have already established in Australia;
3) The manpower trained by this project in the areas of multi-scale simulation of MEMS/NEMS/BioMEMS will provide a crucial support for the future industry of Australia.
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New drives and control techniques for high performance piezoelectric actuation. Piezoelectric actuators are made from a ceramic material that expands in response to an applied voltage. Although these actuators develop the greatest forces and most precise motion of any actuator, a number of performance limitations exist. This proposal aims to overcome these limitations and greatly increase the performance of piezoelectric actuators.
Improved piezoelectric actuators will result in a parallel i ....New drives and control techniques for high performance piezoelectric actuation. Piezoelectric actuators are made from a ceramic material that expands in response to an applied voltage. Although these actuators develop the greatest forces and most precise motion of any actuator, a number of performance limitations exist. This proposal aims to overcome these limitations and greatly increase the performance of piezoelectric actuators.
Improved piezoelectric actuators will result in a parallel improvement of analytic and process machines throughout the scientific and industrial community. Examples include: improved atomic scale microscopes, finer tolerance steel rolling mills, more accurate micro-surgical tools, and automated manipulation of sperm and egg cells in IVF therapy.Read moreRead less
Designing Next Generation GNSS Receivers Using the Software Approach. GNSS products & services are continually being developed to make Australian farmers & miners more productive, road transport & air & marine navigation safer, & geospatial data capture more efficient. The value of GNSS products & services will grow rapidly, and may be over a billion dollars pa in Australia by the end of the decade. In addition, the impact on society of ubiquitous positioning made possible using GNSS will be pro ....Designing Next Generation GNSS Receivers Using the Software Approach. GNSS products & services are continually being developed to make Australian farmers & miners more productive, road transport & air & marine navigation safer, & geospatial data capture more efficient. The value of GNSS products & services will grow rapidly, and may be over a billion dollars pa in Australia by the end of the decade. In addition, the impact on society of ubiquitous positioning made possible using GNSS will be profound. GNSS devices will be embedded within mobilephones, consumer items, clothing & other personal effects. An enhancement of Australia's R&D capabilities as proposed in this project will allow new GNSS receiver designs to be quickly developed & tested that take advantage of the next generation GNSS signals.Read moreRead less