Auto-oscillation of human vocal folds: Key experiments using acoustic loads. This project aims to explain the basic physics of the voice using new, non-invasive, acoustic techniques. The physics of the vocal folds’ aeromechanical oscillation are not understood because this precious tissue is unavailable for direct experiments. This project shall determine how the flow and pressure at the larynx behave under acoustical loads and develop a data set that selects which models can explain vocal fold ....Auto-oscillation of human vocal folds: Key experiments using acoustic loads. This project aims to explain the basic physics of the voice using new, non-invasive, acoustic techniques. The physics of the vocal folds’ aeromechanical oscillation are not understood because this precious tissue is unavailable for direct experiments. This project shall determine how the flow and pressure at the larynx behave under acoustical loads and develop a data set that selects which models can explain vocal fold motion under different conditions and determine the parameters in those models. This project could benefit the huge industries that treat, record, compress, transmit, analyse and synthesise the voice.Read moreRead less
The voice: glottal flows, vocal tract resonances and their interaction. Speech is fundamental to human culture and huge industries exist that analyse, compress, synthesise, transmit and distribute it. Nevertheless, several practical difficulties mean that some key variables and how they interact are only imprecisely known. This project uses an innovative approach for deriving the glottal flow and a new technique for generating precise acoustical flows in model systems to refine the algorithms cu ....The voice: glottal flows, vocal tract resonances and their interaction. Speech is fundamental to human culture and huge industries exist that analyse, compress, synthesise, transmit and distribute it. Nevertheless, several practical difficulties mean that some key variables and how they interact are only imprecisely known. This project uses an innovative approach for deriving the glottal flow and a new technique for generating precise acoustical flows in model systems to refine the algorithms currently used to relate speech sound to the acoustic flow in the larynx. The project aims to provide the first reliable measurements of the bandwidths of resonances and the acoustical losses in vocal tracts. The results will have practical industrial and, perhaps, clinical applications.Read moreRead less
Beyond linear source-filter theory: how does the vocal tract affect the motion of the vocal folds? The human voice lies at the very core of human culture. Yet the way in which the vocal folds ('vocal cords') vibrate is only partly understood and the way in which sound waves within the vocal tract affect this vibration is almost unknown, beyond the fact that it is sometimes important. Using new and unique non-invasive techniques, we shall conduct acoustic experiments to measure properties of the ....Beyond linear source-filter theory: how does the vocal tract affect the motion of the vocal folds? The human voice lies at the very core of human culture. Yet the way in which the vocal folds ('vocal cords') vibrate is only partly understood and the way in which sound waves within the vocal tract affect this vibration is almost unknown, beyond the fact that it is sometimes important. Using new and unique non-invasive techniques, we shall conduct acoustic experiments to measure properties of the vocal folds and their interaction with the sound they produce in the vocal tract. This knowledge will solve some of the remaining puzzles about the voice. Practical applications will include exercises in voice control (especially for singers and orators) and potential applications in clinical diagnosis techniques.Read moreRead less
Discovery Early Career Researcher Award - Grant ID: DE130101000
Funder
Australian Research Council
Funding Amount
$270,847.00
Summary
Next generation acoustic sensor arrays for super resolution imaging. This project aims to develop a new type of acoustic lens that enhances incoherent sensing. This compressive acoustic sensing approach will achieve super-resolution imaging that is robust to noise. The technology has diverse applications including medical imaging, petroleum prospecting, sonar and acoustic holography and will lead to new technology for Australia.
Material boundaries in ultrasonics: New methods and in vitro studies in biomedical phantoms. Ultrasound is an indispensable part of healthcare worldwide. The next wave of applications will see ultrasound pulses used to closely probe suspected disease sites and to directly manipulate bioactive agents. For safe and effective use of such techniques it is essential to know the ultrasound field at the disease site. This project will develop simulation methods to achieve the fast, accurate and case-sp ....Material boundaries in ultrasonics: New methods and in vitro studies in biomedical phantoms. Ultrasound is an indispensable part of healthcare worldwide. The next wave of applications will see ultrasound pulses used to closely probe suspected disease sites and to directly manipulate bioactive agents. For safe and effective use of such techniques it is essential to know the ultrasound field at the disease site. This project will develop simulation methods to achieve the fast, accurate and case-specific results required. Community healthcare will benefit, through better diagnostic capabilities and customized treatment. Australia is well placed to profit further from this research, in view of the growing worldwide demand for more sophisticated, knowledge-based techniques in medicine.Read moreRead less
The effect of vessel wall structures on ultrasonic flow velocity measurements. The flow velocity within a nearly cylindrical vessel is often measured using an external ultrasound transducer via the Doppler principle. Thick vessel walls may present acoustically mismatched structures. This project aims to determine how such walls redistribute the energy in an interrogating ultrasound beam, and how this in turn affects the measurement of flow velocities. This is a fundamental issue, especially imp ....The effect of vessel wall structures on ultrasonic flow velocity measurements. The flow velocity within a nearly cylindrical vessel is often measured using an external ultrasound transducer via the Doppler principle. Thick vessel walls may present acoustically mismatched structures. This project aims to determine how such walls redistribute the energy in an interrogating ultrasound beam, and how this in turn affects the measurement of flow velocities. This is a fundamental issue, especially important in vascular disease where blood flow and blood vessels are affected by wall irregularities and lesions. The new knowledge generated by this project will have practical importance and, by identifying achievable outcomes, potentially major cost savings, in medical ultrasound.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
The acoustics of reed instruments during transients and vibrato: elements of excellence. In the hands and mouth of an expert player, a woodwind reed instrument (for example, clarinet and oboe) can produce a subtle and beautiful sound. Using techniques only available in this lab, this project will determine the physics of the interactions between a player's vocal tract, the vibrating reed and the instrument bore. The project will determine how an expert player can control the initial, final and s ....The acoustics of reed instruments during transients and vibrato: elements of excellence. In the hands and mouth of an expert player, a woodwind reed instrument (for example, clarinet and oboe) can produce a subtle and beautiful sound. Using techniques only available in this lab, this project will determine the physics of the interactions between a player's vocal tract, the vibrating reed and the instrument bore. The project will determine how an expert player can control the initial, final and slurred transients that give grace, elegance and other desired qualities. The project will also study how sustained notes vary with time, with special attention to timbre vibrato, which gives 'warmth' and a lively, 'glowing' quality to their sound. This study will yield important practical results, which can be converted into advances in music teaching.Read moreRead less
Understanding and overcoming technical difficulties in woodwind musical instruments. A large minority of Australians play musical instruments, and even more enjoy listening. Wind instruments predominate in school bands. This project will provide knowledge and resources that will improve teaching and playing techniques. It will also provide understanding and information useful to instrument makers, of which Australia has several. The information will be made available in both technical and non-te ....Understanding and overcoming technical difficulties in woodwind musical instruments. A large minority of Australians play musical instruments, and even more enjoy listening. Wind instruments predominate in school bands. This project will provide knowledge and resources that will improve teaching and playing techniques. It will also provide understanding and information useful to instrument makers, of which Australia has several. The information will be made available in both technical and non-technical forms via our widely used web site.
The quality of this research, its useful application to practical problems, and the rapid and easy communication to a wide and very interested subset of the public will enhance Australia's reputation for research and music.Read moreRead less
Linkage Infrastructure, Equipment And Facilities - Grant ID: LE150100155
Funder
Australian Research Council
Funding Amount
$370,000.00
Summary
An Ultra-wideband Radio Receiver for the Parkes 64-metre Radio Telescope. An ultra-wideband radio receiver for the Parkes 64-metre radio telescope: This project aims to construct a state-of-the-art ultra-wide-band receiver and signal processing system for the Parkes 64-metre radio telescope. The receiver will operate across the entire 700 megahertz to four gigahertz band with outstanding sensitivity and polarimetric performance, providing a unique capability for high-time-resolution wide-bandwid ....An Ultra-wideband Radio Receiver for the Parkes 64-metre Radio Telescope. An ultra-wideband radio receiver for the Parkes 64-metre radio telescope: This project aims to construct a state-of-the-art ultra-wide-band receiver and signal processing system for the Parkes 64-metre radio telescope. The receiver will operate across the entire 700 megahertz to four gigahertz band with outstanding sensitivity and polarimetric performance, providing a unique capability for high-time-resolution wide-bandwidth astronomy. It is expected to deliver enhanced science outcomes for a wide range of projects and greatly improve the telescope's operational efficiency, extending its lifetime into the Square Kilometre Array era. Key science projects include tests of theories of relativistic gravitation, including the search for gravitational waves, probing neutron star interiors and investigations of the magnetic structure of our galaxy.Read moreRead less