What learning is there in learning control? This project seeks to establish a meaningful definition and quantifiable measure of learning in the context of adaptive or learning control. The project is designed within the context of human motor skill learning, and assesses the speed of learning and the quality of learning (reflected by the accuracy of the motor task execution). The project plans to use measures to provide a mathematically precise meaning for the notion of learning. The outcome has ....What learning is there in learning control? This project seeks to establish a meaningful definition and quantifiable measure of learning in the context of adaptive or learning control. The project is designed within the context of human motor skill learning, and assesses the speed of learning and the quality of learning (reflected by the accuracy of the motor task execution). The project plans to use measures to provide a mathematically precise meaning for the notion of learning. The outcome has the potential to be applied to the design of technology-assisted training of motor skills, from the recovery of lost motor skills after trauma to the development of elite athletes.Read moreRead less
Innovative X-by-Wire Control Systems for Improved Vehicle Manoeuvrability and Stability. Future automobiles will be equipped with safety-critical ‘x-by-wire’ systems, such as ‘steer-by-wire’, ‘brake-by-wire’, and ‘drive-by-wire’, to enable active safety control and improve reliability and performance. This project aims to develop a new coordinated control strategy based on an in-depth understanding of the fundamental dynamics and stability characteristics of vehicles. Corresponding x-by-wire sys ....Innovative X-by-Wire Control Systems for Improved Vehicle Manoeuvrability and Stability. Future automobiles will be equipped with safety-critical ‘x-by-wire’ systems, such as ‘steer-by-wire’, ‘brake-by-wire’, and ‘drive-by-wire’, to enable active safety control and improve reliability and performance. This project aims to develop a new coordinated control strategy based on an in-depth understanding of the fundamental dynamics and stability characteristics of vehicles. Corresponding x-by-wire systems will then be implemented, using a novel networked bilateral-control concept and new haptic devices for enhancing the overall performance and safety of vehicles. This project will lead to the innovative design of vehicle active safety systems for automobile manufacturing in Australia and the rest of the world.Read moreRead less
Robust Coherent Control Engineering for Quantum Systems and Networks. This project aims to develop new methods for the design of robust coherent controllers for emerging applications to quantum systems and networks. Using robust controllers which are themselves quantum systems, tools from the theory of optimal risk sensitive control aim to enable technological systems to be designed with high levels of performance in the face of unavoidable uncertainties due to imperfect fabrication and interact ....Robust Coherent Control Engineering for Quantum Systems and Networks. This project aims to develop new methods for the design of robust coherent controllers for emerging applications to quantum systems and networks. Using robust controllers which are themselves quantum systems, tools from the theory of optimal risk sensitive control aim to enable technological systems to be designed with high levels of performance in the face of unavoidable uncertainties due to imperfect fabrication and interactions with the environment. The research aims to yield systematic control engineering methods to combat the effects of quantum decoherence which is critical in order to make quantum technologies such as quantum computing truly practical. Applications include computing, secure communications, sensing and simulationsRead moreRead less
Coherent control engineering for state estimation in quantum linear systems. This project aims to develop new methodologies for designing coherent controllers to facilitate optimal estimation in systems incorporating quantum sensors such as optomechanical and atom-interference sensors. New quantum sensors are being developed which have the potential to achieve sensitivities approaching fundamental physical limits. However to fully exploit these devices, this project will develop new control engi ....Coherent control engineering for state estimation in quantum linear systems. This project aims to develop new methodologies for designing coherent controllers to facilitate optimal estimation in systems incorporating quantum sensors such as optomechanical and atom-interference sensors. New quantum sensors are being developed which have the potential to achieve sensitivities approaching fundamental physical limits. However to fully exploit these devices, this project will develop new control engineering and signal processing methods taking into account the fundamental properties of quantum systems and noise. This will enable quantum sensors to be applied to a wide range of applications including transport, medical imaging, civil engineering, and the detection of hazards.Read moreRead less
Robust control of highly resonant flexible and nanoscale systems. This project aims to develop new methodologies to analyse and design control systems for highly resonant flexible structures occurring in emerging areas of precision engineering such as atomic force microscopes, scanning tunnelling microscopes and microelectromechanical systems. Critical to the operation of these instruments are feedback control systems. In order to enable microelectromechanical technologies to be developed at a l ....Robust control of highly resonant flexible and nanoscale systems. This project aims to develop new methodologies to analyse and design control systems for highly resonant flexible structures occurring in emerging areas of precision engineering such as atomic force microscopes, scanning tunnelling microscopes and microelectromechanical systems. Critical to the operation of these instruments are feedback control systems. In order to enable microelectromechanical technologies to be developed at a large scale, control systems are required with high levels of accuracy, speed and robustness. This project will enable the systematic synthesis of such control systems and thus facilitate advances in micro and nano-electomechanical sensors, biological, medical and materials imaging, and quantum computing devices.Read moreRead less
Optimisation methods for coherent quantum signal estimation and filtering. The project aims to develop an innovative systems theory and optimisation methods to enhance the design of components for next-generation quantum communication networks. It will advance new theoretical knowledge and efficient algorithms that can be applied to make networks more efficient and less costly. New technologies set to emerge within the next decade including specialised quantum processors and transformative cyber ....Optimisation methods for coherent quantum signal estimation and filtering. The project aims to develop an innovative systems theory and optimisation methods to enhance the design of components for next-generation quantum communication networks. It will advance new theoretical knowledge and efficient algorithms that can be applied to make networks more efficient and less costly. New technologies set to emerge within the next decade including specialised quantum processors and transformative cyber security systems will require ultra-fast networks, and the project will contribute significantly to advancing these technologies. This will benefit the Australia's economy and reinforce Australia's leadership in the quantum technological revolution through innovative engineering approaches.Read moreRead less
Context-aware verification and validation framework for autonomous driving. This project aims to enhance the reliability and safety of emerging self-driving vehicles, through a framework that supports the validation and verification of autonomous driving systems. This project expects to generate new knowledge in areas of software engineering, intelligent transport, and machine learning, using a multi-disciplinary research combining expertise from various fields. Expected outcomes of this project ....Context-aware verification and validation framework for autonomous driving. This project aims to enhance the reliability and safety of emerging self-driving vehicles, through a framework that supports the validation and verification of autonomous driving systems. This project expects to generate new knowledge in areas of software engineering, intelligent transport, and machine learning, using a multi-disciplinary research combining expertise from various fields. Expected outcomes of this project are a family of new context-aware techniques to verify and validate complex behaviours in autonomous driving. This should provide significant benefits, such as safe autonomous driving systems and the improved journey experience and security for road users.Read moreRead less
Subsurface Atomic Force Microscopy using Dual Probes. The proposal aims to develop a new microscopy method for imaging nano-scale structures buried below the surface of a sample; for example, metal conductors in a computer processor chip. The expected outcome is a new method for creating subsurface images with an application focus on semiconductor device inspection and quality control. The proposed microscope is expected to create new economic opportunities including new commercial products, int ....Subsurface Atomic Force Microscopy using Dual Probes. The proposal aims to develop a new microscopy method for imaging nano-scale structures buried below the surface of a sample; for example, metal conductors in a computer processor chip. The expected outcome is a new method for creating subsurface images with an application focus on semiconductor device inspection and quality control. The proposed microscope is expected to create new economic opportunities including new commercial products, intellectual property, and the potential for a start-up venture. The benefits to Australia should include the creation of new job opportunities and the development of local expertise in a high-value market sector.Read moreRead less
Modelling, analysis and design of secure networked control systems. This project aims to develop models, design and analysis techniques for secure Networked Control Systems (NCS). These could control large-scale and complex distributed systems. Improved NCS technology will underpin our ability to optimise water and energy use, live in sustainable communities and create greater efficiencies in manufacturing and transport globally. Only secure NCS design methodologies can use this emerging technol ....Modelling, analysis and design of secure networked control systems. This project aims to develop models, design and analysis techniques for secure Networked Control Systems (NCS). These could control large-scale and complex distributed systems. Improved NCS technology will underpin our ability to optimise water and energy use, live in sustainable communities and create greater efficiencies in manufacturing and transport globally. Only secure NCS design methodologies can use this emerging technology to deliver benefits while protecting it against cyber-attacks. Modelling and designing secure NCS with specific networks is expected to realise the full potential of existing and emerging technology.Read moreRead less
Fault detection and identification in nonlinear complex systems. Complex systems usually comprise a large number of inter-dependent subsystems linked together to perform a certain task. Examples of such systems are power systems, irrigation systems, air traffic control systems, to name a few. Such systems are subject to component failure or malfunction. Total failure can cause an unacceptable financial losses and/or danger to personnel. It is therefore extremely essential, from economic and safe ....Fault detection and identification in nonlinear complex systems. Complex systems usually comprise a large number of inter-dependent subsystems linked together to perform a certain task. Examples of such systems are power systems, irrigation systems, air traffic control systems, to name a few. Such systems are subject to component failure or malfunction. Total failure can cause an unacceptable financial losses and/or danger to personnel. It is therefore extremely essential, from economic and safety view points, that a way be found to ensure reliable and viable operation of complex plants. A first step in achieving this goal is to detect faults on-line and in real-time when they occur and identify their location and characteristics, which is the aim of this project.Read moreRead less