Learning Robotic Navigation and Interaction from Object-based Semantic Maps. Our project aims to develop new learning algorithms that enable robots to perform high-complexity tasks that are currently impossible. Compared to existing methods that rely on low-level sensor data, we aim to achieve this by learning from a high-level graph representation of the environment that captures semantics, affordances, and geometry. The outcome would be robots capable of using human instructions to efficiently ....Learning Robotic Navigation and Interaction from Object-based Semantic Maps. Our project aims to develop new learning algorithms that enable robots to perform high-complexity tasks that are currently impossible. Compared to existing methods that rely on low-level sensor data, we aim to achieve this by learning from a high-level graph representation of the environment that captures semantics, affordances, and geometry. The outcome would be robots capable of using human instructions to efficiently learn complex interaction and navigation behaviours that transfer to unseen environments. Our research should benefit new applications in domains of economic and societal importance that are currently too complex, unsafe, and uncertain for robot assistants, such as aged care, advanced manufacturing and domestic robotics.Read moreRead less
Australian Laureate Fellowships - Grant ID: FL210100156
Funder
Australian Research Council
Funding Amount
$2,716,041.00
Summary
Re-Evolving Nature’s Best Positioning Systems for People and Their Machines. The aim is to develop next-generation positioning capabilities that reduce Australia’s increasingly risky strategic reliance on vulnerable GPS satellites owned by other countries, and that enable transformation of Australia’s most important sectors through enhanced automation and robotics. Our approach re-evolves, re-engineers, and re-combines the best performing and best understood components of nature’s best positioni ....Re-Evolving Nature’s Best Positioning Systems for People and Their Machines. The aim is to develop next-generation positioning capabilities that reduce Australia’s increasingly risky strategic reliance on vulnerable GPS satellites owned by other countries, and that enable transformation of Australia’s most important sectors through enhanced automation and robotics. Our approach re-evolves, re-engineers, and re-combines the best performing and best understood components of nature’s best positioning systems with new technological advances in sensing and computation. The expected outcomes are high-performance positioning systems that improve the competitiveness of Australia’s leading industries and provide the positioning reliability required by the defence sector to keep Australia secure.Read moreRead less
Intelligent pattern recognition of water end uses enabling recommendations. This project aims to develop a hybrid machine learning method for autonomously disaggregating high- and low-resolution water flow data received from smart meters into discrete end-use events, and a customised recommender system for efficient resource demand management. Project novelty and significance relates to this coupling and autonomous disaggregation of datasets from advanced sensors, enabling more efficient utility ....Intelligent pattern recognition of water end uses enabling recommendations. This project aims to develop a hybrid machine learning method for autonomously disaggregating high- and low-resolution water flow data received from smart meters into discrete end-use events, and a customised recommender system for efficient resource demand management. Project novelty and significance relates to this coupling and autonomous disaggregation of datasets from advanced sensors, enabling more efficient utility services delivery and lower customer utility bills. Project benefits include enabling utilities to better manage and plan resources in the information age, while empowering customers with real-time water end-use data and behaviour changing consumption recommendations.Read moreRead less
The role of strong duality in computer vision. This project aims to undertake research in the fields of computer vision and optimization that will have a significant impact on the design of numerical algorithms for solving a wide range of problems in Computer Vision, Virtual Reality and Robotic Navigation. This project will advance understanding of a broad class of problems related to how computers interpret images. An expected outcome is the generation of novel mathematical theory and numerical ....The role of strong duality in computer vision. This project aims to undertake research in the fields of computer vision and optimization that will have a significant impact on the design of numerical algorithms for solving a wide range of problems in Computer Vision, Virtual Reality and Robotic Navigation. This project will advance understanding of a broad class of problems related to how computers interpret images. An expected outcome is the generation of novel mathematical theory and numerical algorithms capable of fundamentally changing the way problems relevant to a wide range of vision-related applications are solved. This should offer Australia a strong competitive advantage as a leader in scientific innovation in the areas of Computer Vision, Virtual Reality and Robotics and Autonomous Systems.Read moreRead less
Industrial Transformation Research Hubs - Grant ID: IH210100030
Funder
Australian Research Council
Funding Amount
$5,000,000.00
Summary
ARC Research Hub in Intelligent Robotic Systems for Real-Time Asset Management. This hub aims to transform the way assets and infrastructure are managed by developing new capabilities for intelligent robotic systems for inspection, monitoring, and maintenance. The hub expects to generate new knowledge in robotics and associated fields including sensing, planning, data processing, and machine learning using interdisciplinary approaches and tight collaboration between academia and industry. The ex ....ARC Research Hub in Intelligent Robotic Systems for Real-Time Asset Management. This hub aims to transform the way assets and infrastructure are managed by developing new capabilities for intelligent robotic systems for inspection, monitoring, and maintenance. The hub expects to generate new knowledge in robotics and associated fields including sensing, planning, data processing, and machine learning using interdisciplinary approaches and tight collaboration between academia and industry. The expected outcomes are robots with the ability to autonomously collect data for integration into a digital twin that provides a real-time representation of the true state of a physical asset. The benefits include both improved asset management and establishing Australia as a leading manufacturer of advanced robotic systems.Read moreRead less
Discovery Early Career Researcher Award - Grant ID: DE200101300
Funder
Australian Research Council
Funding Amount
$423,711.00
Summary
Lipopolysaccharide-induced macrophage extracellular traps in host defence. The innate immune system is the first line of defence against invading microbes. Macrophages are key innate immune cells that deploy antimicrobial responses to clear infection and restore health. There are many critical unanswered questions on the molecular mechanisms that drive macrophage inflammatory and antimicrobial pathways. This project aims to elucidate a novel inflammatory mechanism that immobilises and kills inva ....Lipopolysaccharide-induced macrophage extracellular traps in host defence. The innate immune system is the first line of defence against invading microbes. Macrophages are key innate immune cells that deploy antimicrobial responses to clear infection and restore health. There are many critical unanswered questions on the molecular mechanisms that drive macrophage inflammatory and antimicrobial pathways. This project aims to elucidate a novel inflammatory mechanism that immobilises and kills invading bacteria via newly discovered structures made by dying macrophages called extracellular traps. Insight we gain by interrogating this immune cell signalling pathway, called the non-canonical inflammasome, will add valuable knowledge to our fundamental understanding of mammalian inflammation and anti-microbial responses
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The recirculation of myeloid dendritic cells. This project aims to understand dendritic cell recirculation. It will use virological tools to track dendritic cell migration, and identify key decision points. Expected outcomes include enhanced capacity in basic research and greater interdisciplinary collaboration between virology and immunology research groups. Significant benefits will include a new understanding of how G protein coupled receptor signalling and other tissue cues guide dendritic c ....The recirculation of myeloid dendritic cells. This project aims to understand dendritic cell recirculation. It will use virological tools to track dendritic cell migration, and identify key decision points. Expected outcomes include enhanced capacity in basic research and greater interdisciplinary collaboration between virology and immunology research groups. Significant benefits will include a new understanding of how G protein coupled receptor signalling and other tissue cues guide dendritic cell recirculation, and what consequences the recirculation has for immune cell function. This understanding will significantly advance our basic understanding of the immune system.Read moreRead less
Regulation of lung immune-epithelial networks sensing environmental change. This study aims to uncover how lung epithelial cells engage with immune cells and determine their cellular and molecular wiring to ensure homeostatic maintenance and essential repair processes of lung tissues. Maintenance of lung epithelial-immune networks is essential to maintain normal lung tissue structure and function, and to induce immune responses to protect against microbial challenges or inhaled potentially toxic ....Regulation of lung immune-epithelial networks sensing environmental change. This study aims to uncover how lung epithelial cells engage with immune cells and determine their cellular and molecular wiring to ensure homeostatic maintenance and essential repair processes of lung tissues. Maintenance of lung epithelial-immune networks is essential to maintain normal lung tissue structure and function, and to induce immune responses to protect against microbial challenges or inhaled potentially toxic substances. Understanding this molecular program of epithelial-immune cell-mediated sensing/repair will be essential to understand how tissue-repair processes can be driven in the lung, an organ critical for respiration and thus life.Read moreRead less
Automated benthic understanding with multimodal observations. This project aims to deliver cost-effective techniques to explore and monitor marine environments. The project will develop novel methods for classification of large extent, multimodality seafloor surveys consisting of high-resolution visual 3D gigamosaics made of tens of thousands of images coregistered with broad-scale, lower resolution remote sensing data. This knowledge is essential for designing cost-effective, scalable systems t ....Automated benthic understanding with multimodal observations. This project aims to deliver cost-effective techniques to explore and monitor marine environments. The project will develop novel methods for classification of large extent, multimodality seafloor surveys consisting of high-resolution visual 3D gigamosaics made of tens of thousands of images coregistered with broad-scale, lower resolution remote sensing data. This knowledge is essential for designing cost-effective, scalable systems to explore, map and monitor Australia's marine environments. At a broader level, the approach and the techniques developed in this project have the potential to have applications in other areas such as terrestrial and intertidal ecology, extending positive impacts beyond benthic environments.Read moreRead less
Mitochondria as sensors of environmental threats. This project aims to understand how energy-generating mitochondria control immune responses, both in immune cells called macrophages and in the nematode Caenorhabditis elegans (a free-living roundworm used as a model organism to study gene function and evolutionary biology). The project expects to advance knowledge of how a process called mitochondrial fission enables cells to respond to environmental threats. Expected outcomes include important ....Mitochondria as sensors of environmental threats. This project aims to understand how energy-generating mitochondria control immune responses, both in immune cells called macrophages and in the nematode Caenorhabditis elegans (a free-living roundworm used as a model organism to study gene function and evolutionary biology). The project expects to advance knowledge of how a process called mitochondrial fission enables cells to respond to environmental threats. Expected outcomes include important conceptual advances in cell biology and genetics, new international and national collaborations, and improved methods for cell biology research. Anticipated benefits include a knowledge base that can be indirectly applied in the long term in the development of new strategies to combat infections.Read moreRead less