Scaling Up Satellite Communications for the Internet of Things. The Internet of Things (IoT) is a revolution in sensing and automation that is becoming vital for industries including farming and mining. However, in remote areas, it is especially challenging to connect the large numbers of devices needed. This project will develop novel signal processing and communications approaches to deliver high quality data services to vast numbers of remote IoT devices, distributed over continental scales c ....Scaling Up Satellite Communications for the Internet of Things. The Internet of Things (IoT) is a revolution in sensing and automation that is becoming vital for industries including farming and mining. However, in remote areas, it is especially challenging to connect the large numbers of devices needed. This project will develop novel signal processing and communications approaches to deliver high quality data services to vast numbers of remote IoT devices, distributed over continental scales connected via low earth orbit (LEO) satellite constellations. It will provide the tools for LEO satellite service providers to dimension their networks and assist IoT providers to scale their remote sensor networks and IoT deployments, with ever increasing demand on the limited satellite bandwidth.Read moreRead less
New Technologies for Second Generation Search and Rescue. This project aims to improve the Cospas-Sarsat search and rescue system to ensure faster, more reliable, more accurate, and more cost-effective search and rescue operations, ultimately saving lives. The satellite-based Cospas-Sarsat system has assisted with the emergency rescue of more than 35 000 lives worldwide since its introduction in 1982. A second generation of this system is currently under development, promising to significantly i ....New Technologies for Second Generation Search and Rescue. This project aims to improve the Cospas-Sarsat search and rescue system to ensure faster, more reliable, more accurate, and more cost-effective search and rescue operations, ultimately saving lives. The satellite-based Cospas-Sarsat system has assisted with the emergency rescue of more than 35 000 lives worldwide since its introduction in 1982. A second generation of this system is currently under development, promising to significantly improve detection rate and localisation accuracy. However, in an emergency, the system’s performance is often compromised due to interference and atmospheric effects, leading to false detections that waste valuable resources. This project aims to develop novel techniques to improve this performance.Read moreRead less
Compact Millimeter-Wave Terminal for LEO Satellite Communications. On the basis of the cutting-edge and concept-proofed beam-steerable antenna invented by the team, this project aims at tackling the system-level challenges and developing a commercial-ready millimeter-wave satellite terminal to deal with the digital inequality facing rural and remote Australia. The proposed terminal can lead to a household-affordable price system that is compact and can be installed on a fixed/mobile platform for ....Compact Millimeter-Wave Terminal for LEO Satellite Communications. On the basis of the cutting-edge and concept-proofed beam-steerable antenna invented by the team, this project aims at tackling the system-level challenges and developing a commercial-ready millimeter-wave satellite terminal to deal with the digital inequality facing rural and remote Australia. The proposed terminal can lead to a household-affordable price system that is compact and can be installed on a fixed/mobile platform for broadband connectivity. The project will have an immediate socio-economic impact for families and small businesses located in rural areas in Australia that have poor digital access, meanwhile, it has great potential to transform the local industry partner' business into a highly profitable emerging market.Read moreRead less
Satellite Data Communications for Remote Sensing and Broadband Connectivity. The remote, distributed location of many of Australia's primary industries preclude the use of consumer-oriented terrestrial wireless broadband services. In many instances, satellite communications provides the only feasible means of connectivity for telemetry, supervisory control and data acquisition, tracking and fleet management. Meteorology, remote sensing, irrigation, mining, oil and gas exploration, and fisheries ....Satellite Data Communications for Remote Sensing and Broadband Connectivity. The remote, distributed location of many of Australia's primary industries preclude the use of consumer-oriented terrestrial wireless broadband services. In many instances, satellite communications provides the only feasible means of connectivity for telemetry, supervisory control and data acquisition, tracking and fleet management. Meteorology, remote sensing, irrigation, mining, oil and gas exploration, and fisheries are just a few examples of high-value applications of particular significance to Australia. This project will develop bandwidth efficient satellite communications technologies that greatly reduce cost and pave the way toward new market opportunities for broadband access and telemetry applications. Read moreRead less
Downlinks for Future Earth Observation Satellites: Breaking the Bottlenecks. Future earth-observation satellites require gigabit transmission rates in higher frequency bands. Limitations in the radio frequency spectrum call for spectrally-efficient modulation schemes, which make gigabit data rates particularly challenging. This project aims to design a next-generation transmission scheme for future Ka-Band gigabit satellite downlinks, including novel approaches for dealing with channel effects s ....Downlinks for Future Earth Observation Satellites: Breaking the Bottlenecks. Future earth-observation satellites require gigabit transmission rates in higher frequency bands. Limitations in the radio frequency spectrum call for spectrally-efficient modulation schemes, which make gigabit data rates particularly challenging. This project aims to design a next-generation transmission scheme for future Ka-Band gigabit satellite downlinks, including novel approaches for dealing with channel effects such as group delay, ripple and non-linear satellite power amplifiers. The design intends to include high-speed signal processing and coding architectures, plus real-time signal synthesis and acquisition to allow realistic performance testing and optimisation with satellite hardware from Thales Alenia Space.Read moreRead less
Accurate Location Service for 3G Cellular Networks. The project aims to improve the accuracy of automatic location identification of GPS enabled handsets in third-generation cellular networks via a modified Differential GPS method. The proposed sub-metre location ability will be a value-added service of the network providers and will appeal to a wide sector of users. The challenge is to develop a cost effective solution by utilising existing network infrastructure. We propose to use the GPS timi ....Accurate Location Service for 3G Cellular Networks. The project aims to improve the accuracy of automatic location identification of GPS enabled handsets in third-generation cellular networks via a modified Differential GPS method. The proposed sub-metre location ability will be a value-added service of the network providers and will appeal to a wide sector of users. The challenge is to develop a cost effective solution by utilising existing network infrastructure. We propose to use the GPS timing units in 3G networks for deriving local GPS position corrections; and to transfer these corrections to the users via the 3G data bursts of the beacons or other user data broadcasts.Read moreRead less
A Space-Based Quantum Communications Platform using Continuous Variables. This work proposes to investigate a new space-borne platform capable of quantum communications with a terrestrial ground station. Different from existing space-borne quantum communication platforms, our new platform will be based on CV (Continuous Variable) technology and will integrate the ability to seamlessly switch to classical Free-Space Optical communications when channel conditions deem quantum communications are .... A Space-Based Quantum Communications Platform using Continuous Variables. This work proposes to investigate a new space-borne platform capable of quantum communications with a terrestrial ground station. Different from existing space-borne quantum communication platforms, our new platform will be based on CV (Continuous Variable) technology and will integrate the ability to seamlessly switch to classical Free-Space Optical communications when channel conditions deem quantum communications are too difficult. Currently no quantum satellite built on CV technology exists. Our research will produce a significant advance in an emerging technology space, and will allow Australia to take scientific leadership in an important aspect of ultra-secure communications from satellites.
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Development of large scale expansion tubes. The aim of this proposal is to develop a high Mach number scramjet simulation capability by modifying the X3 superorbital expansion tube at UQ for high suborbital operation at very high total pressures. This will enable Australia to do true Mach number simulation at higher speeds than is possible anywhere else, and mantain an international advantage in the development of scramjet flight propulsion. It will also put Australian researchers in a strong p ....Development of large scale expansion tubes. The aim of this proposal is to develop a high Mach number scramjet simulation capability by modifying the X3 superorbital expansion tube at UQ for high suborbital operation at very high total pressures. This will enable Australia to do true Mach number simulation at higher speeds than is possible anywhere else, and mantain an international advantage in the development of scramjet flight propulsion. It will also put Australian researchers in a strong position to participate in the next generation of US ground testing facilities, foreshadowed by the recent NASA purchase of a large shock tunnel driver. It will enable Australia to maintain a position of leadership in the development of new space travel concepts.Read moreRead less
Development of a new transport layer protocol to provide secure broadband internet connections via satellite to rural and remote areas. Satellite links form an essential part of broadband connectivity to rural and remote areas. Effective use of the internet over satellite links is therefore essential if B2B (Business-to-Business) and B2C (Business-to-Consumer) E-commerce is to develop in these areas. In many application networks, particularly virtual private networks (VPN), secure transmission ....Development of a new transport layer protocol to provide secure broadband internet connections via satellite to rural and remote areas. Satellite links form an essential part of broadband connectivity to rural and remote areas. Effective use of the internet over satellite links is therefore essential if B2B (Business-to-Business) and B2C (Business-to-Consumer) E-commerce is to develop in these areas. In many application networks, particularly virtual private networks (VPN), secure transmission is important to avoid fraud and maintain privacy.
Satellite links introduce a long delay (latency) in the transmission path and existing secure internet protocols do not handle this well. This is because in many situations, it is a requirement that the secure connection be implemented not only independently of the
satellite service provider but also in a reliable and efficient way.
This project will develop new practical solutions so that secure and reliable end-to-end connections can be provided over the satellite links.
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Advanced Signal Processing Techniques for Very High Rate Satellite Demodulators. The purpose of the project is to develop new approaches to the design and implementation of very high-rate modems for satellite communication links. In this context data rates between 500 Mbit/s and 1 Gbit/s are targeted. The project aims to bring together two organisations which combined have the technical expertise, track record, market knowledge and motivation to create a significant new capability in satellite ....Advanced Signal Processing Techniques for Very High Rate Satellite Demodulators. The purpose of the project is to develop new approaches to the design and implementation of very high-rate modems for satellite communication links. In this context data rates between 500 Mbit/s and 1 Gbit/s are targeted. The project aims to bring together two organisations which combined have the technical expertise, track record, market knowledge and motivation to create a significant new capability in satellite communications. The project will result in new techniques for the reception and processing of high bandwidth signals to achieve better performance with flexible and cost-efficient designs such as high end earth-resource and surveillance satellite data reception.Read moreRead less