A networked robotic telescope array for coincident detection of transient phenomena in the optical, gravitational wave, neutrino and radio spectra. An international collaboration of scientists will employ a global network of rapid response robotic telescopes and detectors to study exotic transient phenomena in the early Universe. Potential spin-offs include the application of novel image analysis techniques for identifying and tracking dangerous space junk.
Optimal control of nonlinear delay systems: theory, algorithms, and applications. Time delays are present in many engineering systems, including robots, irrigation canals, and chemical reactors. This project aims to develop state-of-the-art techniques for controlling systems with time delays in an optimal manner.
Linkage Infrastructure, Equipment And Facilities - Grant ID: LE120100051
Funder
Australian Research Council
Funding Amount
$150,000.00
Summary
A robotic telescope imaging system for rapid response spectroscopy of gamma ray bursts. This project will build and employ a rapid response optical spectrograph on the robotic Zadko Telescope, triggered by satellite and ground based observatories. The instruments will be used to probe the most energetic explosions in the universe and to test non-standard quantum and relativity theories using coincident multi-wavelength observations.
A geometric theory for modern optimisation problems in control and estimation. Linear-quadratic and spectral factorisation problems play a crucial role in system and control theory as well as many important application areas. The success of the project will represent a significant advancement of state-of-the-art in these broad areas.
Distributionally robust dynamic optimisation for nonlinear switched system. Biochemical production utilising fermentation processes evidences poor product repeatability. This project aims to control and optimise 1,3-propanediol production via microbial fermentation. 1,3-propanediol is an essential ingredient for many polymeric materials and is present in cosmetics, personal care and cleaning products. New theory and parallel algorithms will be developed for the control and optimisation of the mi ....Distributionally robust dynamic optimisation for nonlinear switched system. Biochemical production utilising fermentation processes evidences poor product repeatability. This project aims to control and optimise 1,3-propanediol production via microbial fermentation. 1,3-propanediol is an essential ingredient for many polymeric materials and is present in cosmetics, personal care and cleaning products. New theory and parallel algorithms will be developed for the control and optimisation of the microbial fermentation of 1,3-propanediol production, where the bacteria kinetic parameters are uncertain without full knowledge of the probability distribution. This theory will also be applicable to other fermentation processes. The project outcomes are expected to significantly improve the productivity of the biochemical engineering industry involving fermentation processes.Read moreRead less
Biomechanics Meets Robotics: Methods for Accurate and Fast Needle Targeting. This project intends to create a novel integrated framework for biomedical systems that can accurately target a needle. Accurate surgical targeting means less trauma and better patient outcomes. Needles are used in over half of all surgical procedures, but up to 38 per cent of these are affected by targeting errors. Achieving sub-millimetre accuracy is extremely difficult because inserting a needle displaces the tissue ....Biomechanics Meets Robotics: Methods for Accurate and Fast Needle Targeting. This project intends to create a novel integrated framework for biomedical systems that can accurately target a needle. Accurate surgical targeting means less trauma and better patient outcomes. Needles are used in over half of all surgical procedures, but up to 38 per cent of these are affected by targeting errors. Achieving sub-millimetre accuracy is extremely difficult because inserting a needle displaces the tissue and moves the target. How, then, can ultra-fine targeting be achieved? This project plans to integrate non-linear biomechanical models that predict tissue motion with accurate and principled motion control. It seeks to create new methods for surgical robots that will predict target motion and guide a needle to accurately intersect the target.Read moreRead less
Improving transient performance for systems with multiple inputs/outputs. This project aims to develop and test new mathematical techniques for the improvement of transient performance in tracking control systems. The fundamental problem to be addressed will be the design of controllers to rapidly track constant and time varying target reference signals without overshooting or undershooting for multiple-input multiple-output systems/plants. These new methods aim to offer improved accuracy and sp ....Improving transient performance for systems with multiple inputs/outputs. This project aims to develop and test new mathematical techniques for the improvement of transient performance in tracking control systems. The fundamental problem to be addressed will be the design of controllers to rapidly track constant and time varying target reference signals without overshooting or undershooting for multiple-input multiple-output systems/plants. These new methods aim to offer improved accuracy and speed in many engineering applications.Read moreRead less
Discovery Early Career Researcher Award - Grant ID: DE170101062
Funder
Australian Research Council
Funding Amount
$360,000.00
Summary
A geometric approach to in-hand manipulation with rolling contact. This project aims to eradicate barriers to in-hand manipulation and design robot hands as dexterous and adaptable as the human hand. It will use the curvature theory of smooth surfaces and Lie Group theory to establish a coordinate-independent kinematic formulation of a robot hand with rolling contact and rectify the current singularity theory of in-hand manipulation. It will also use discrete differential geometry to establish a ....A geometric approach to in-hand manipulation with rolling contact. This project aims to eradicate barriers to in-hand manipulation and design robot hands as dexterous and adaptable as the human hand. It will use the curvature theory of smooth surfaces and Lie Group theory to establish a coordinate-independent kinematic formulation of a robot hand with rolling contact and rectify the current singularity theory of in-hand manipulation. It will also use discrete differential geometry to establish a discrete contact theory, which will be integrated into the proposed geometric framework to fully exploit modern tactile fingertips’ functionality. The expected outcome is robot hands with the dexterity and adaptability of the human hand.Read moreRead less