Intelligent Reflecting Surface-enabled High-speed 6G Wireless Networks. Intelligent reflecting surface (IRS) is a ground-breaking wireless technology essential for the development of future sixth-generation (6G) wireless communication networks. This project aims to develop fundamental communication theories and practical solutions to characterise and optimise IRS-based communication. The project expects to design novel channel estimation, robust beamforming, resource allocation and analytical fr ....Intelligent Reflecting Surface-enabled High-speed 6G Wireless Networks. Intelligent reflecting surface (IRS) is a ground-breaking wireless technology essential for the development of future sixth-generation (6G) wireless communication networks. This project aims to develop fundamental communication theories and practical solutions to characterise and optimise IRS-based communication. The project expects to design novel channel estimation, robust beamforming, resource allocation and analytical framework to address the significant scientific challenges for the development of IRS for enabling high-speed 6G networks. These outcomes are expected to contribute to a new type of wireless infrastructure which paves the way for building and transforming the Australian information and communications technology industries.Read moreRead less
Plasmon mode lasers; smaller, faster, better. High speed Information Technology (IT) communication is using more and more of our global energy. Energy efficiency of IT hardware can be improved by incorporating small, high performance lasers for short distance optical communication. New metallic and plasmonic nano-lasers lasers are indeed smaller and in theory can have performance advantages over current dielectric cavity lasers. This project looks at developing new electrically pumped plasmonic ....Plasmon mode lasers; smaller, faster, better. High speed Information Technology (IT) communication is using more and more of our global energy. Energy efficiency of IT hardware can be improved by incorporating small, high performance lasers for short distance optical communication. New metallic and plasmonic nano-lasers lasers are indeed smaller and in theory can have performance advantages over current dielectric cavity lasers. This project looks at developing new electrically pumped plasmonic lasers with nano scale semiconductors that satisfy requirements for short distance optical communications. Complex systems of these small, fast lasers will also be investigated, with the aim of providing high speed digital processing capabilities exceeding those of electronics.Read moreRead less
ARC Centre of Excellence for Transformative Meta-Optical Systems. The ARC Centre of Excellence for Transformative Meta-Optical Systems will develop the next-generation of miniaturised optical systems with functionalities beyond what is conceivable today. By harnessing the disruptive concept of meta-optics, the Centre will overcome complex challenges in light generation, manipulation and detection at the nanoscale. The Centre brings together a trans-disciplinary team of world-leaders in science, ....ARC Centre of Excellence for Transformative Meta-Optical Systems. The ARC Centre of Excellence for Transformative Meta-Optical Systems will develop the next-generation of miniaturised optical systems with functionalities beyond what is conceivable today. By harnessing the disruptive concept of meta-optics, the Centre will overcome complex challenges in light generation, manipulation and detection at the nanoscale. The Centre brings together a trans-disciplinary team of world-leaders in science, technology and engineering to deliver scientific innovations in optical systems for the Fourth Industrial Revolution. The research outcomes will underpin future technologies, including real-time holographic displays, artificial vision for autonomous systems to see the invisible, and ultra-fast light-based WiFi.Read moreRead less
Engineering and testing of three mode opto-acoustic parametric amplifiers. This project will engineer a new type of sensor called an opto-acoustic parametric amplifier. It is so sensitive to measure individual quantum units of vibration. The devices use laser light to measure the motion of tiny mirrors. Practical devices could be used to create quantum memory for quantum computers and sensors of exquisite sensitivity.
Energy-saving design: investigation of the thermal performance of rammed earth residential buildings. Housing people in Australian remote communities is energy intensive. This is particularly true in hot regions, where the house running costs are significant due to air-conditioning units functioning 24 hours a day, for most of the year. Rammed earth houses in dry-arid climate zones should not require any air-conditioning in summer. This project aims to investigate the optimal thermal performance ....Energy-saving design: investigation of the thermal performance of rammed earth residential buildings. Housing people in Australian remote communities is energy intensive. This is particularly true in hot regions, where the house running costs are significant due to air-conditioning units functioning 24 hours a day, for most of the year. Rammed earth houses in dry-arid climate zones should not require any air-conditioning in summer. This project aims to investigate the optimal thermal performance of two occupied houses using a novel sensor network. It aims to deliver new evidence on the thermal performance of rammed earth buildings to inform energy-efficiency decision frameworks and enhance the wellbeing of Indigenous communities in hot regions.Read moreRead less
Development of a pre-production prototype for a laser-based plant sensing weed control system. Australian farmers spend over $800 million per annum on herbicides. The proposed technology can reduce herbicide usage by 80 per cent (i.e. over $640 million per annum saving) and improve crop yields by 30 per cent. Precision application of herbicides, fertilisers and nutrients to weeds and crops has both economic and environmental benefits which will increase farm profits and boost Australia's export ....Development of a pre-production prototype for a laser-based plant sensing weed control system. Australian farmers spend over $800 million per annum on herbicides. The proposed technology can reduce herbicide usage by 80 per cent (i.e. over $640 million per annum saving) and improve crop yields by 30 per cent. Precision application of herbicides, fertilisers and nutrients to weeds and crops has both economic and environmental benefits which will increase farm profits and boost Australia's export sales. Reduced chemical loads on ecosystems will benefit the environment and reduced chemicals in the food chain will benefit the health of Australians. This development will put Australia at the cutting edge of precision spray technology and has numerous spin-off applications in many sectors.Read moreRead less
New multiplexed optical read-out technologies for micromachined cantilever sensor arrays. Passive sensing of chemical and biological agents is an essential capability in fields as diverse as national security, agriculture, mining and medicine. In many cases, generic sensing (e.g. are there pesticides present) as well as specific sensing (which pesticide) are both important. While sensors based on micro-electromechanical systems (MEMS) have shown extremely high performance at low cost, they have ....New multiplexed optical read-out technologies for micromachined cantilever sensor arrays. Passive sensing of chemical and biological agents is an essential capability in fields as diverse as national security, agriculture, mining and medicine. In many cases, generic sensing (e.g. are there pesticides present) as well as specific sensing (which pesticide) are both important. While sensors based on micro-electromechanical systems (MEMS) have shown extremely high performance at low cost, they have been limited to detection of a specific substance. Success in this project will make low cost generic MEMS-based sensors a reality, allowing, for the first time, wide-spread use of sensitive sensing systems in applications such as farming, container transport security, general medical practice and national security.Read moreRead less
Real-time plant discrimination and weed detection platform. The aim of this project is to develop an advanced, robust, commercially ready, laser-based green-from-green plant discrimination and weed detection sensor, capable of identifying different plants and weeds in the field, and allowing precise herbicide spraying of targeted weeds all in the same pass. Through the incorporation of novel multi-band sensors and the development of adaptable, configurable lasers, this first-of-its-kind system i ....Real-time plant discrimination and weed detection platform. The aim of this project is to develop an advanced, robust, commercially ready, laser-based green-from-green plant discrimination and weed detection sensor, capable of identifying different plants and weeds in the field, and allowing precise herbicide spraying of targeted weeds all in the same pass. Through the incorporation of novel multi-band sensors and the development of adaptable, configurable lasers, this first-of-its-kind system intends to see a dramatic improvement over current approaches to weed targeting. The outcome of the project aims to achieve optimised weed control, resulting in increased crop yields, reduced environmental impacts, decreased risk of herbicide resistance and substantial cost-savings.Read moreRead less
Semi-contention based multi-user diversity: a new way to increase throughput of wireless communications. Wireless communications, due to its low initial deployment cost, high scalability and flexibility, will play a key role in providing broadband communications to sparsely populated areas of Australia. To this end, the Australian government announced "Connect Australia" aiming for nationwide broadband communication services, in which wireless communications is an important component. This proje ....Semi-contention based multi-user diversity: a new way to increase throughput of wireless communications. Wireless communications, due to its low initial deployment cost, high scalability and flexibility, will play a key role in providing broadband communications to sparsely populated areas of Australia. To this end, the Australian government announced "Connect Australia" aiming for nationwide broadband communication services, in which wireless communications is an important component. This project focuses on improving the throughput of wireless communications, especially for rural areas, through the use of a new technology: semi-contention based multi-user diversity. The outcome of this project will help to connect Australian people and to lift the international profile of Australian engineering science in wireless communications.Read moreRead less
Combined Terahertz Imaging and Optical Coherence Tomography. This project aims to exploit the synergies between terahertz imaging and optical coherence tomography. These novel imaging modalities will be combined into a single multi-modality technique which will have application in numerous industry sectors like manufacturing, non-destructive testing, pharmaceutical and medicine. The intended outcome of the project is to create an internationally leading position for Australia in cutting-edge res ....Combined Terahertz Imaging and Optical Coherence Tomography. This project aims to exploit the synergies between terahertz imaging and optical coherence tomography. These novel imaging modalities will be combined into a single multi-modality technique which will have application in numerous industry sectors like manufacturing, non-destructive testing, pharmaceutical and medicine. The intended outcome of the project is to create an internationally leading position for Australia in cutting-edge research in optical and terahertz imaging. This innovative, fundamental research will expand Australia’s research capacity in imaging with wide ranging applications. The anticipated goal of the project is to build a prototype imaging system with industry partners ready for the next step to commercialisation. Read moreRead less