Fork safely: improving safety of ordinary forklifts by automating task-specific operations. Forklift trucks are used for goods handling extensively in all sectors of industry. However, statistics show high figures of forklift accidents, with an average of 250 serious injuries per year in Victoria alone. This project will seek to address the operational safety of forklifts by automating the execution of typical forklift tasks.
Atomic Resolution Sensors for Imaging and Metrological Science. This project aims to create new sensing technologies for detecting motion on the atomic scale with Megahertz (MHz) bandwidth. Advanced signal processing and communication theory will be applied with the aim of developing new classes of capacitive, inductive and optical position sensors. The resolution and bandwidth are predicted to be a one-hundred fold improvement over the current state-of-the-art. Applications are expected to incl ....Atomic Resolution Sensors for Imaging and Metrological Science. This project aims to create new sensing technologies for detecting motion on the atomic scale with Megahertz (MHz) bandwidth. Advanced signal processing and communication theory will be applied with the aim of developing new classes of capacitive, inductive and optical position sensors. The resolution and bandwidth are predicted to be a one-hundred fold improvement over the current state-of-the-art. Applications are expected to include biomedical imaging, high-speed nanofabrication, high-resolution computer numerical control (CNC) machining, high-speed gas and chemical sensors, and ultra-precise seismometers and gyroscopes.Read moreRead less
Integrated Piezoelectric Microsystems for Actuation and Sensing. Piezoelectric transducers provide the highest positioning accuracy of any known actuator and the highest dynamic force resolution of any known sensor. However, these capabilities are limited to macro scale applications since piezoelectric materials are not compatible with integrated circuit (IC) or Micro-Electro-Mechanical Systems fabrication processes. This project aims to extend the use of piezoelectric materials to the meso- and ....Integrated Piezoelectric Microsystems for Actuation and Sensing. Piezoelectric transducers provide the highest positioning accuracy of any known actuator and the highest dynamic force resolution of any known sensor. However, these capabilities are limited to macro scale applications since piezoelectric materials are not compatible with integrated circuit (IC) or Micro-Electro-Mechanical Systems fabrication processes. This project aims to extend the use of piezoelectric materials to the meso- and micro-scale by fabricating miniature piezoelectric positioning and sensor systems. These devices will include six-axis nano-positioners and ultra-high resolution accelerometers and gyroscopes. This technology will create a new market for devices that are lower cost than macro-scale systems but provide higher performance than silicon based microsystems.Read moreRead less
Learning control and computational models of human motor systems. With the aim of understanding how humans learn their body movements, this project addresses fundamental cross-disciplinary issues of learning control, robotics and computational models of human motor systems. The results will lead to improvements in smart industrial automation and the development of more effective rehabilitation stategies.
Extending the lifetime of switching power converters. This project aims to address the need for longer lifespan of power conversion systems which can withstand failure of its key components. This is achieved through developing more reliable power converter circuits whilst reducing the stress of the components. This project will generate new circuit design and control techniques for power and energy systems, especially in dealing with reliability issues. Expected outcome of this project includes ....Extending the lifetime of switching power converters. This project aims to address the need for longer lifespan of power conversion systems which can withstand failure of its key components. This is achieved through developing more reliable power converter circuits whilst reducing the stress of the components. This project will generate new circuit design and control techniques for power and energy systems, especially in dealing with reliability issues. Expected outcome of this project includes reduction of failure rate of power converters by at least 50%. This should provide benefits for many sectors including emerging technologies in particular renewable energy, electric vehicles and energy storage systems seeking reliable power supply and for the environment with reduced e-waste production.Read moreRead less
Optimum location of FACTS devices with advanced control scheme for improving the security of complex power grid. Prevention of blackouts is one of the highest priorities of the electricity industry. One of the fundamental reasons for the recent blackouts in long transmission network is inter-area oscillations. Queensland's long transmission network is a vital part of the Australian electricity grid and is vulnerable to inter-area oscillations. There is a need for a comprehensive approach to inve ....Optimum location of FACTS devices with advanced control scheme for improving the security of complex power grid. Prevention of blackouts is one of the highest priorities of the electricity industry. One of the fundamental reasons for the recent blackouts in long transmission network is inter-area oscillations. Queensland's long transmission network is a vital part of the Australian electricity grid and is vulnerable to inter-area oscillations. There is a need for a comprehensive approach to investigate the effect of inter-area oscillation that contributes to blackouts. Focussing the Queensland network, this project will provide a complete assessment tool for the optimum location of FACTS devices with modern and advanced control schemes in improving the security of complex interconnected power-grid. Read moreRead less
Discovery Early Career Researcher Award - Grant ID: DE180101118
Funder
Australian Research Council
Funding Amount
$314,446.00
Summary
Enabling high photovoltaic penetration in power distribution networks. This project aims to develop a novel hybrid control method for power distribution grid network voltage regulation with high photovoltaic penetration. The outcome of this project will enable power utilities to cost-effectively regulate network voltage and ultimately remove barriers for future photovoltaic deployment. This will deliver significant economic benefits for both the wider community and utility providers, along with ....Enabling high photovoltaic penetration in power distribution networks. This project aims to develop a novel hybrid control method for power distribution grid network voltage regulation with high photovoltaic penetration. The outcome of this project will enable power utilities to cost-effectively regulate network voltage and ultimately remove barriers for future photovoltaic deployment. This will deliver significant economic benefits for both the wider community and utility providers, along with substantial environmental outcomes through increased use of sustainable energy sources.Read moreRead less
Smart house energy management system. This multidisciplinary project will empower Australia's power industry with tools and knowledge that will enable the transformation to be more intelligent and flexible. It will help reduce greenhouse gas emissions and increase energy efficiency by smarter use of the resources at household level.
Distributed control for wide-area demand response. This project underpins the paradigm shift from load following to load shaping in power system operation by unlocking the untapped potential of the demand side. The approach taken is to use modern ideas in distributed control. This will facilitate large-scale integration of renewable energy sources and thus render the energy supply more sustainable.
Transforming Microgrid to Virtual Power Plant –ICT Frameworks,Tools,Control. The project aims to enhance large scale renewable penetrations to national power grid by advancing control, optimization, and ancillary services of Virtual Power Plants (VPPs), considering different disruptive events including recent South Australian blackout. This project expects to create new control, frame communication architecture, develop plug and play type IoT enabled grid interfacing inverter, and optimize resou ....Transforming Microgrid to Virtual Power Plant –ICT Frameworks,Tools,Control. The project aims to enhance large scale renewable penetrations to national power grid by advancing control, optimization, and ancillary services of Virtual Power Plants (VPPs), considering different disruptive events including recent South Australian blackout. This project expects to create new control, frame communication architecture, develop plug and play type IoT enabled grid interfacing inverter, and optimize resource management for distributed VPPs. The anticipated benefits from this institutional level collaborations are that VPPs help in enhancing national power grid operations during normal and disruptive conditions when more renewables are connected and also secure benefits of consumers, prosumers, and grid operators.Read moreRead less