Robust Control Design using Micro-Actuators. Recent advances in micro-actuators have enabled many new applications in complex systems. Examples include ultra-high density disk drives, low-cost vibration tables, and micro-robotic systems. However, control design for these systems is very challenging because the micro-actuators have severely limited dynamic ranges and strong couplings. The proposed project aims to study new control design approaches for these complex systems. The work will focus o ....Robust Control Design using Micro-Actuators. Recent advances in micro-actuators have enabled many new applications in complex systems. Examples include ultra-high density disk drives, low-cost vibration tables, and micro-robotic systems. However, control design for these systems is very challenging because the micro-actuators have severely limited dynamic ranges and strong couplings. The proposed project aims to study new control design approaches for these complex systems. The work will focus on both theoretical studies and experimental applications of such systems. The outcome of the project will help put Australia in a more advanced position in this niche area of leading age technology.Read moreRead less
Advanced model-based control for ultra-fast and ultra-high-precision nanoscale positioning. Australia faces unique challenges due to its small population and distance from international markets. To maintain a high standard of living Australia needs to further develop its high-tech base particularly in emerging fields such as nanotechnology. This research program is aimed at placing Australia at the forefront of international research in nanoscale positioning systems by building a world-class tea ....Advanced model-based control for ultra-fast and ultra-high-precision nanoscale positioning. Australia faces unique challenges due to its small population and distance from international markets. To maintain a high standard of living Australia needs to further develop its high-tech base particularly in emerging fields such as nanotechnology. This research program is aimed at placing Australia at the forefront of international research in nanoscale positioning systems by building a world-class team of talented researchers and equipping them with world-class research infrastructure. The global market for nanotechnology is projected to be in the tens of billions of dollars by 2020. The proposed research will enhance Australia's competitive advantage through high-impact scientific and technological innovations in nanotechnology.Read moreRead less
Microprobing of Crystal Polarisation in Polycrystalline Compound Semiconductors. We will improve the quality of polycrystalline compound semiconductor thin films, grown by chemical vapour deposition. The novelty of the project is divided between applying new methods to assess film quality and deposition development. An expected outcome will be a measurement system with the unique capability of probing the spatial variation of dielectric polarisation with sub-micron resolution. Polycrystalline ....Microprobing of Crystal Polarisation in Polycrystalline Compound Semiconductors. We will improve the quality of polycrystalline compound semiconductor thin films, grown by chemical vapour deposition. The novelty of the project is divided between applying new methods to assess film quality and deposition development. An expected outcome will be a measurement system with the unique capability of probing the spatial variation of dielectric polarisation with sub-micron resolution. Polycrystalline GaN recently been taken to state of the art performance at Macquarie University, will be the trial material. The information obtained will inform material improvement, with the ultimate aim of fabricating polycrystalline, GaN-based transistors and blue light-emitting diodes on glass substrates.Read moreRead less
Development of a new wideband feed for a cylindrical reflector antenna. The aim of this project is to design and build a wideband feed to operate at the line focus of a cylindrical reflector antenna, over the frequency range 300 MHz to 1500 MHz. The development of a low cost wideband feed will give Argus Technologies a competitive edge in the expanding telecommunications industry because they will have a single device that will satisfy many specialist antenna requirements, which can be economic ....Development of a new wideband feed for a cylindrical reflector antenna. The aim of this project is to design and build a wideband feed to operate at the line focus of a cylindrical reflector antenna, over the frequency range 300 MHz to 1500 MHz. The development of a low cost wideband feed will give Argus Technologies a competitive edge in the expanding telecommunications industry because they will have a single device that will satisfy many specialist antenna requirements, which can be economically manufactured. There will also be potential application for this array in radar and navigation systems and for the next generation radio telescope, the Square Kilometre Array.Read moreRead less
Optical Biomimetics of Diatoms. Optics is a research and economic strength of Australia. We will aim to provide a new optical sensor for chemicals using a diatom. This use of an optical device found in nature is groundbreaking and may provide a more efficient form of sensor to help to detect pollution such as metals in marine environments. Alternatively, diatoms could become the component of an iridescent paint for cars or other commercial objects. Diatoms could be made-to-measure in the laborat ....Optical Biomimetics of Diatoms. Optics is a research and economic strength of Australia. We will aim to provide a new optical sensor for chemicals using a diatom. This use of an optical device found in nature is groundbreaking and may provide a more efficient form of sensor to help to detect pollution such as metals in marine environments. Alternatively, diatoms could become the component of an iridescent paint for cars or other commercial objects. Diatoms could be made-to-measure in the laboratory on a commercial scale, and so may introduce a new industry, where other optical devices in nature could be cultured by the tonne.Read moreRead less
Holographic Videography for Spatial Communication. This project is aimed at developing a true colour holographic video display in which a user or users may interact with completely synthetic objects.
This will be the first system of its kind, giving a user the illusion of real physical interaction with a completely holographic object. The illusion may be shared by many participants without the use of external aids. The project has the potential to improve productivity in many applications suc ....Holographic Videography for Spatial Communication. This project is aimed at developing a true colour holographic video display in which a user or users may interact with completely synthetic objects.
This will be the first system of its kind, giving a user the illusion of real physical interaction with a completely holographic object. The illusion may be shared by many participants without the use of external aids. The project has the potential to improve productivity in many applications such as geospatial information systems, x-ray inspection, and medical imaging, by giving a user a much more natural way of interacting with three dimensional data.Read moreRead less
Novel coherence-free photonic microwave signal processors. With the increasing bandwidth requirements of information signals, there is an unprecedented challenge to provide high-speed and high resolution systems for signal processing. The new photonic signal processors in this project will herald in a new epoch in the ability to optimally condition wideband signals, with important applications for science, business and security services. These processors will have particular impact in transcendi ....Novel coherence-free photonic microwave signal processors. With the increasing bandwidth requirements of information signals, there is an unprecedented challenge to provide high-speed and high resolution systems for signal processing. The new photonic signal processors in this project will herald in a new epoch in the ability to optimally condition wideband signals, with important applications for science, business and security services. These processors will have particular impact in transcending exisiting electronic processor limitations and in enhancing fibre-fed distributed antenna systems, with benefits to Australia in the fields of radioastronomy and radar systems in defence.Read moreRead less
Novel coherence-free microwave photonic signal processors. With the unrelenting push for increasing bandwidth requirements, there is an unprecedented challenge to provide high-performance systems for high-bandwidth signal processing. In areas such as fibre-wireless networks, radioastronomy, and defence, it is essential to pre-process the wideband fibre-fed distributed antenna signals. The new coherence-free, high-frequency, low-noise photonic signal processors, in this project have important app ....Novel coherence-free microwave photonic signal processors. With the unrelenting push for increasing bandwidth requirements, there is an unprecedented challenge to provide high-performance systems for high-bandwidth signal processing. In areas such as fibre-wireless networks, radioastronomy, and defence, it is essential to pre-process the wideband fibre-fed distributed antenna signals. The new coherence-free, high-frequency, low-noise photonic signal processors, in this project have important applications for science, business and security services. The results have widespread uses in enhancing fibre-fed distributed antenna systems, with national benefits in the fields of radioastronomy and radar systems in defence.Read moreRead less
Dynamically tunable, low-noise, discrete-time optical processing of high-speed signals. In today's society there is an unrelenting push for increasing bandwidth requirements. Thus the challenge arises to provide systems that can optimally condition high-speed signals. Many systems carry not only the desired information but also high level interference signals. Tunable interference mitigation is required to address different interferers actively while having minimal impact on the passband. The ne ....Dynamically tunable, low-noise, discrete-time optical processing of high-speed signals. In today's society there is an unrelenting push for increasing bandwidth requirements. Thus the challenge arises to provide systems that can optimally condition high-speed signals. Many systems carry not only the desired information but also high level interference signals. Tunable interference mitigation is required to address different interferers actively while having minimal impact on the passband. The new dynamically tunable photonic signal processors in this project have important applications for science, business and security services. The results have widespread uses in enhancing fibre-fed distributed antenna systems, with national benefits in the fields of radioastronomy and radar systems in defence.Read moreRead less
Advanced Control of Dual-Stage Hard Disk Drives. The project is of significant scientific merit, resulting in solutions to open problems in control of dual-stage hard disk drive systems. This will contribute to the maintenance of Australia's international research profile, help maintain its internal research vitality and also enhance the advanced engineering base of the country. An important benefit of this research is the direct application of developed ideas to the next generation data storage ....Advanced Control of Dual-Stage Hard Disk Drives. The project is of significant scientific merit, resulting in solutions to open problems in control of dual-stage hard disk drive systems. This will contribute to the maintenance of Australia's international research profile, help maintain its internal research vitality and also enhance the advanced engineering base of the country. An important benefit of this research is the direct application of developed ideas to the next generation data storage systems. The completion of this project will directly benefit Australia's developing high-tech industries.Read moreRead less