Sensing and Communications for Tactical Radio: Mapping the RF Weather. This project investigates sensing, localisation and communication strategies to improve the performance of modern tactical radio networks. Such networks face all of the well-known design challenges of mobile ad-hoc networks (MANETs) but with added complication of a contested and adversarial operating environment. By exploiting the power of radio nodes to sense the radio spectrum, as well as to communicate over it, a distribut ....Sensing and Communications for Tactical Radio: Mapping the RF Weather. This project investigates sensing, localisation and communication strategies to improve the performance of modern tactical radio networks. Such networks face all of the well-known design challenges of mobile ad-hoc networks (MANETs) but with added complication of a contested and adversarial operating environment. By exploiting the power of radio nodes to sense the radio spectrum, as well as to communicate over it, a distributed network of nodes can create a detailed picture of the surrounding radio-frequency (RF) environment: the nodes can work together to map the “RF weather”. In this project we will design advanced sensing and localisation methods to accurately map the RF spectrum, and then exploit this map in communication system design.Read moreRead less
Gigabit Wireless: Setting the Standard for Tomorrow's Broadband. This project will strengthen a long-term alliance between researchers at the University of Melbourne and NEC Australia, one of the few multinational research laboratories with significant R & D presence in Australia. Researchers at the University of Melbourne with expertise in communication theory fundamentals will collaborate with experienced research and design engineers at NEC, to produce fundamental research, and the resulting ....Gigabit Wireless: Setting the Standard for Tomorrow's Broadband. This project will strengthen a long-term alliance between researchers at the University of Melbourne and NEC Australia, one of the few multinational research laboratories with significant R & D presence in Australia. Researchers at the University of Melbourne with expertise in communication theory fundamentals will collaborate with experienced research and design engineers at NEC, to produce fundamental research, and the resulting design tools and intellectual property that will provide a new direction for wireless broadband access. The project will provide high-quality postgraduate and postdoctoral training in an area of great relevance to the Australian telecommunications industry.Read moreRead less
Easing the Squeeze: Dynamic and Distributed Resource Allocation with Cognitive Radio. The radio spectrum is a scarce and valuable natural resource which is being squeezed by the rapid growth in wireless communications. Cognitive radios make efficient use of radio spectrum by dynamically reusing frequencies. This requires cognitive radios to sense the local environment and to control the interference caused to existing users of the spectrum. This project will design novel dynamic and distributed ....Easing the Squeeze: Dynamic and Distributed Resource Allocation with Cognitive Radio. The radio spectrum is a scarce and valuable natural resource which is being squeezed by the rapid growth in wireless communications. Cognitive radios make efficient use of radio spectrum by dynamically reusing frequencies. This requires cognitive radios to sense the local environment and to control the interference caused to existing users of the spectrum. This project will design novel dynamic and distributed resource allocation algorithms for cognitive radios in order to significantly improve their performance using techniques from extreme value theory, game theory and mechanism design and large random matrix theory. Read moreRead less
Real-time internet of thing algorithms with performance guarantees. This project aims to provide efficient, distributed resource allocation algorithms that can perform satisfactorily within time limits imposed by real-time systems. Real-time Internet of Things (IoT) devices will play a significant role in future transport technologies, such as autonomous vehicles and smart traffic management, and will place significant demands upon distributed computing systems to provide timely information upda ....Real-time internet of thing algorithms with performance guarantees. This project aims to provide efficient, distributed resource allocation algorithms that can perform satisfactorily within time limits imposed by real-time systems. Real-time Internet of Things (IoT) devices will play a significant role in future transport technologies, such as autonomous vehicles and smart traffic management, and will place significant demands upon distributed computing systems to provide timely information updates. The computing challenge is to provide reliable, accurate and timely information to IoT devices. The outcomes of this project will directly be beneficial to a variety of IoT applications in transportation, autonomous vehicles, and smart cities. The valuable engineering insights and novel algorithms will support industry, government, and practitioners for future real-time IoT design and deployments.Read moreRead less
Control protocols for wireless networks. There is tremendous commercial potential in the development of wireless multi-hop and sensor networks. This project will help realize such networks, with commercial benefits for the network providers, and the customers that use them (low cost networking). Particular outcomes targeted for Australian needs include: 1) protocols allowing advanced telecommunications services to cover greater geographic areas with less infrastructure 2) improved reliability o ....Control protocols for wireless networks. There is tremendous commercial potential in the development of wireless multi-hop and sensor networks. This project will help realize such networks, with commercial benefits for the network providers, and the customers that use them (low cost networking). Particular outcomes targeted for Australian needs include: 1) protocols allowing advanced telecommunications services to cover greater geographic areas with less infrastructure 2) improved reliability of local communication services in remote or rugged areas 3) protocols for sensor networks, allowing remote monitoring and control of many environmental factors. Read moreRead less
Development of a new transport layer protocol to provide secure broadband internet connections via satellite to rural and remote areas. Satellite links form an essential part of broadband connectivity to rural and remote areas. Effective use of the internet over satellite links is therefore essential if B2B (Business-to-Business) and B2C (Business-to-Consumer) E-commerce is to develop in these areas. In many application networks, particularly virtual private networks (VPN), secure transmission ....Development of a new transport layer protocol to provide secure broadband internet connections via satellite to rural and remote areas. Satellite links form an essential part of broadband connectivity to rural and remote areas. Effective use of the internet over satellite links is therefore essential if B2B (Business-to-Business) and B2C (Business-to-Consumer) E-commerce is to develop in these areas. In many application networks, particularly virtual private networks (VPN), secure transmission is important to avoid fraud and maintain privacy.
Satellite links introduce a long delay (latency) in the transmission path and existing secure internet protocols do not handle this well. This is because in many situations, it is a requirement that the secure connection be implemented not only independently of the
satellite service provider but also in a reliable and efficient way.
This project will develop new practical solutions so that secure and reliable end-to-end connections can be provided over the satellite links.
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Dynamic phased array antennas for terahertz detection and ranging. The project aims to create reciprocal electrically-tuneable phased array antennas for terahertz waves. The antennas will comprise varactor diodes, analogue phase shifters, and dielectric resonator arrays to rapidly transmit and receive beams with high directivity and performance. The intended outcome is an integrated platform for short-range terahertz detection and ranging. This platform could be used in personal radar and drone- ....Dynamic phased array antennas for terahertz detection and ranging. The project aims to create reciprocal electrically-tuneable phased array antennas for terahertz waves. The antennas will comprise varactor diodes, analogue phase shifters, and dielectric resonator arrays to rapidly transmit and receive beams with high directivity and performance. The intended outcome is an integrated platform for short-range terahertz detection and ranging. This platform could be used in personal radar and drone-based radar, and high-contrast standoff detection. The project could benefit public security and welfare.Read moreRead less
Cognitive Radio Technology: Increasing Spectral Efficiency of Wireless Communications. The radio spectrum is an expensive resource and normally requires licensed operation. Cognitive Radio has been proposed as a means of releasing large tracts of unused spectrum without causing interference to other users. It uses a combination of frequency agility and intelligence to identify unused spectrum for transmission. This study will evaluate the performance gains of such a system by developing a spect ....Cognitive Radio Technology: Increasing Spectral Efficiency of Wireless Communications. The radio spectrum is an expensive resource and normally requires licensed operation. Cognitive Radio has been proposed as a means of releasing large tracts of unused spectrum without causing interference to other users. It uses a combination of frequency agility and intelligence to identify unused spectrum for transmission. This study will evaluate the performance gains of such a system by developing a spectrum occupancy data base to test a variety of radio access strategies. Cognitive Radio is particularly suited to providing low cost broadband access to remote, rural and city fringe dwellings.Read moreRead less
Translucent Optical Networks: Architecture, Design, Operation, and Survivability. Australia is a geographically disperse country. Long-haul optical transport networks are key communication infrastructure between metropolises. Our research aims to discover cost-effective network architecture and planning and operational strategies for optical transport networks, which is beneficial to the deployment and operation of Australian telecommunication networks. In addition, viewing the sparse connectivi ....Translucent Optical Networks: Architecture, Design, Operation, and Survivability. Australia is a geographically disperse country. Long-haul optical transport networks are key communication infrastructure between metropolises. Our research aims to discover cost-effective network architecture and planning and operational strategies for optical transport networks, which is beneficial to the deployment and operation of Australian telecommunication networks. In addition, viewing the sparse connectivity of Australian backbone transport networks, the research on network survivability will provide effective strategies for Australian transport networks to survive any network failures due to natural disasters or terror attacks, thereby providing reliable network services to Australian. Read moreRead less
Architectures and System Technologies for Intelligent Photonic Packet Routers. The photonic packet switching in future all-optical IP centric networks can provide the much needed bandwidth granularity and optimal data transport architectures. Through the adaptation of multi-protocol label switching (MPLS) compatible photonic label switching concepts, photonic packet routers can be easily realised. As part of this project we will develop subsystem technologies for header processing with integrate ....Architectures and System Technologies for Intelligent Photonic Packet Routers. The photonic packet switching in future all-optical IP centric networks can provide the much needed bandwidth granularity and optimal data transport architectures. Through the adaptation of multi-protocol label switching (MPLS) compatible photonic label switching concepts, photonic packet routers can be easily realised. As part of this project we will develop subsystem technologies for header processing with integrated ability to perform optical signal monitoring will be made. Based on these studies, optimal novel intelligent photonic router architectures incorporating these technologies will be developed and demonstrated. Performance optimisation will be carried out through computer modelling.Read moreRead less