Feedback entropy in dynamical systems. This project aims to use the fundamental concept of entropy to help evaluate the decision-making effort in a variety of feedback control systems in science and engineering. This understanding will help develop smarter technologies and algorithms in areas such as manufacturing, vehicular technology and automated irrigation.
Nonstochastic information flows in networked dynamical systems. Feedback control is a crucial element of manufacturing, vehicular and energy systems, and is needed to guarantee hard performance bounds in safety- and mission-critical environments. When these control systems are implemented over communication networks, the amount of information flowing through them becomes a critical determinant of performance. However, the nonprobabilistic control objectives make standard information theory inapp ....Nonstochastic information flows in networked dynamical systems. Feedback control is a crucial element of manufacturing, vehicular and energy systems, and is needed to guarantee hard performance bounds in safety- and mission-critical environments. When these control systems are implemented over communication networks, the amount of information flowing through them becomes a critical determinant of performance. However, the nonprobabilistic control objectives make standard information theory inapplicable. This project aims to develop a novel, nonstochastic theory of information in order to analyse and design networked dynamical systems that obey worst-case performance limits. This will yield robust, probability-free algorithms for distributed control, filtering and causality inference.Read moreRead less
Efficient computational methods for worst-case analysis and optimal control of nonlinear dynamical systems. Natural and technological systems can exhibit extremely complicated behaviour in worst-case scenarios. This project will develop efficient mathematical and computational tools that will enable this behaviour to be understood and controlled.
Functional state observers for large-scale interconnected systems. This project will produce conceptual advances with new design rules to develop robust and efficient functional state observers for interconnected systems. The outcomes will advance the theory of functional observers and improve the operation, efficiency and performance of critical infrastructure such as power grids, water and traffic networks.
Analysis and design of control systems with saturation and time-delay. Control engineering is an enabling technology without which most modern engineering systems, such as aircrafts or Internet, can not operate properly. Actuator saturation and time-delays are undesirable phenomena that often arise in control systems leading to poor performance and sometimes instability. For example, both of these phenomena arise in control of modern telecommunication systems, such as Active Queue Management in ....Analysis and design of control systems with saturation and time-delay. Control engineering is an enabling technology without which most modern engineering systems, such as aircrafts or Internet, can not operate properly. Actuator saturation and time-delays are undesirable phenomena that often arise in control systems leading to poor performance and sometimes instability. For example, both of these phenomena arise in control of modern telecommunication systems, such as Active Queue Management in TCP networks. The project aims at tackling these phenomena by using recently developed techniques in antiwindup for saturating actuators and by revisiting some classical methods for Smith predictor design for time-delayed systems.Read moreRead less
The Role of Information in Game-Theoretic Decisions on Distributed Systems. Game theory is an important instrument for analysis and design of resource allocation algorithms on distributed systems. In many real-world problems, information available to agents is incomplete in contrast to the perfect information assumption often made. This project will investigate game-theoretic decisions and quantify information analytically using concepts from information theory. A better understanding and quanti ....The Role of Information in Game-Theoretic Decisions on Distributed Systems. Game theory is an important instrument for analysis and design of resource allocation algorithms on distributed systems. In many real-world problems, information available to agents is incomplete in contrast to the perfect information assumption often made. This project will investigate game-theoretic decisions and quantify information analytically using concepts from information theory. A better understanding and quantitative modelling of information will lead to distributed systems that are optimal and robust with respect to communication constraints. Project outcomes will be applicable to electrical power grids, renewable energy generation and storage, water irrigation networks, and communication systems.Read moreRead less
Stability and performance analysis for uncertain time-varying interconnected systems. This project will deliver new mathematical tools for the study of interconnected systems. This will broaden the scope for rigorously certifying engineered systems and understanding interactions in the natural world. Potential application areas include telecommunications, transport, water distribution, smart-grids, neuroscience and cell biology.
Bodies in space. By investigating how a change in shape of the human body can produce a change in spatial orientation, the project will bring a fundamental advance of knowledge in the intersection of applied mathematics, sports science and mechanical engineering. These knowledge advances will lead to a novel theory regarding the control of the aerial dynamics of athletes, specifically springboard and platform divers. When applied in collaboration with world class Australian athletes, this theory ....Bodies in space. By investigating how a change in shape of the human body can produce a change in spatial orientation, the project will bring a fundamental advance of knowledge in the intersection of applied mathematics, sports science and mechanical engineering. These knowledge advances will lead to a novel theory regarding the control of the aerial dynamics of athletes, specifically springboard and platform divers. When applied in collaboration with world class Australian athletes, this theory will result in innovative platform and springboard diving techniques and improved performance. The reach of new insights generated by this work extends to many other fields, including robotics, spacecraft dynamics and nano technology.Read moreRead less
Extremum seeking control: a systematic design framework. Design of engineered systems whose operation is "best" or optimal in some sense is essential in tackling a range of socio-economic problems facing our society. This project will provide a methodology for design of such systems that would improve performance of various irrigation, optical communications, economics and power generation systems.
Channel Assignment in Cellular Communication Systems and Optical Networks. Due to the rapid growth in mobile communications, efficient management of the scarce radio spectrum has emerged as an important issue. To avoid interference various conditions need to be satisfied by channels assigned to the transmitters in a cellular communication network. This project targets optimal assignments under such constraints, and similar problems for optical networks. Its implementation will have potential app ....Channel Assignment in Cellular Communication Systems and Optical Networks. Due to the rapid growth in mobile communications, efficient management of the scarce radio spectrum has emerged as an important issue. To avoid interference various conditions need to be satisfied by channels assigned to the transmitters in a cellular communication network. This project targets optimal assignments under such constraints, and similar problems for optical networks. Its implementation will have potential applications in computer and telecommunication industries, and advance significantly our knowledge on relevant subjects of mathematics and operations research. Read moreRead less