Advanced model-based control for ultra-fast and ultra-high-precision nanoscale positioning. Australia faces unique challenges due to its small population and distance from international markets. To maintain a high standard of living Australia needs to further develop its high-tech base particularly in emerging fields such as nanotechnology. This research program is aimed at placing Australia at the forefront of international research in nanoscale positioning systems by building a world-class tea ....Advanced model-based control for ultra-fast and ultra-high-precision nanoscale positioning. Australia faces unique challenges due to its small population and distance from international markets. To maintain a high standard of living Australia needs to further develop its high-tech base particularly in emerging fields such as nanotechnology. This research program is aimed at placing Australia at the forefront of international research in nanoscale positioning systems by building a world-class team of talented researchers and equipping them with world-class research infrastructure. The global market for nanotechnology is projected to be in the tens of billions of dollars by 2020. The proposed research will enhance Australia's competitive advantage through high-impact scientific and technological innovations in nanotechnology.Read moreRead less
Robust Control Design using Micro-Actuators. Recent advances in micro-actuators have enabled many new applications in complex systems. Examples include ultra-high density disk drives, low-cost vibration tables, and micro-robotic systems. However, control design for these systems is very challenging because the micro-actuators have severely limited dynamic ranges and strong couplings. The proposed project aims to study new control design approaches for these complex systems. The work will focus o ....Robust Control Design using Micro-Actuators. Recent advances in micro-actuators have enabled many new applications in complex systems. Examples include ultra-high density disk drives, low-cost vibration tables, and micro-robotic systems. However, control design for these systems is very challenging because the micro-actuators have severely limited dynamic ranges and strong couplings. The proposed project aims to study new control design approaches for these complex systems. The work will focus on both theoretical studies and experimental applications of such systems. The outcome of the project will help put Australia in a more advanced position in this niche area of leading age technology.Read moreRead less
Development of a new wideband feed for a cylindrical reflector antenna. The aim of this project is to design and build a wideband feed to operate at the line focus of a cylindrical reflector antenna, over the frequency range 300 MHz to 1500 MHz. The development of a low cost wideband feed will give Argus Technologies a competitive edge in the expanding telecommunications industry because they will have a single device that will satisfy many specialist antenna requirements, which can be economic ....Development of a new wideband feed for a cylindrical reflector antenna. The aim of this project is to design and build a wideband feed to operate at the line focus of a cylindrical reflector antenna, over the frequency range 300 MHz to 1500 MHz. The development of a low cost wideband feed will give Argus Technologies a competitive edge in the expanding telecommunications industry because they will have a single device that will satisfy many specialist antenna requirements, which can be economically manufactured. There will also be potential application for this array in radar and navigation systems and for the next generation radio telescope, the Square Kilometre Array.Read moreRead less
Electroacoustic and Acoustic Characterisation of Nanoporous Colloids. Nanoporous materials have an enormous technological importance in many different industries, both traditional and advanced. New technologies require new materials, which are being produced in thousands of laboratories worldwide. The methods for characterising these materials are slow and expensive. A new suite of measurements will be developed, based on acoustic methods, that is rapid and relatively inexpensive. It will not o ....Electroacoustic and Acoustic Characterisation of Nanoporous Colloids. Nanoporous materials have an enormous technological importance in many different industries, both traditional and advanced. New technologies require new materials, which are being produced in thousands of laboratories worldwide. The methods for characterising these materials are slow and expensive. A new suite of measurements will be developed, based on acoustic methods, that is rapid and relatively inexpensive. It will not only give parameters such as particle size, porosity and pore size, which are complementary to existing methods, but also important new information about charge and conductivity that is not presently available.Read moreRead less
Optical Biomimetics of Diatoms. Optics is a research and economic strength of Australia. We will aim to provide a new optical sensor for chemicals using a diatom. This use of an optical device found in nature is groundbreaking and may provide a more efficient form of sensor to help to detect pollution such as metals in marine environments. Alternatively, diatoms could become the component of an iridescent paint for cars or other commercial objects. Diatoms could be made-to-measure in the laborat ....Optical Biomimetics of Diatoms. Optics is a research and economic strength of Australia. We will aim to provide a new optical sensor for chemicals using a diatom. This use of an optical device found in nature is groundbreaking and may provide a more efficient form of sensor to help to detect pollution such as metals in marine environments. Alternatively, diatoms could become the component of an iridescent paint for cars or other commercial objects. Diatoms could be made-to-measure in the laboratory on a commercial scale, and so may introduce a new industry, where other optical devices in nature could be cultured by the tonne.Read moreRead less
Microprobing of Crystal Polarisation in Polycrystalline Compound Semiconductors. We will improve the quality of polycrystalline compound semiconductor thin films, grown by chemical vapour deposition. The novelty of the project is divided between applying new methods to assess film quality and deposition development. An expected outcome will be a measurement system with the unique capability of probing the spatial variation of dielectric polarisation with sub-micron resolution. Polycrystalline ....Microprobing of Crystal Polarisation in Polycrystalline Compound Semiconductors. We will improve the quality of polycrystalline compound semiconductor thin films, grown by chemical vapour deposition. The novelty of the project is divided between applying new methods to assess film quality and deposition development. An expected outcome will be a measurement system with the unique capability of probing the spatial variation of dielectric polarisation with sub-micron resolution. Polycrystalline GaN recently been taken to state of the art performance at Macquarie University, will be the trial material. The information obtained will inform material improvement, with the ultimate aim of fabricating polycrystalline, GaN-based transistors and blue light-emitting diodes on glass substrates.Read moreRead less