Vector quantization approaches to nonlinear stochastic estimation. Many problems in health, economics, telecommunications and industrial control can be formulated as estimation problems with uncertain data. This project is aimed at developing a novel class of algorithms aimed at high complexity estimation problems. If successful, the project will provide new approaches to these problems.
Joint modelling and recognition of linguistic and paralinguistic speech information. A new modelling framework will be developed exploiting interdependence between linguistic and paralinguistic cues to improve automatic recognition of emotion-related information. Applications in the high-tech industry include automatic routing of angry telephone customers or pre-suicidal crisis centre callers to specialist operators/clinicians.
Empowering optical metamaterials with gain. Artificial materials composites (metamaterials) make it possible for us to observe extra-ordinary properties, such as magnetic behaviour in glass and bending light in any direction. The project proposes to enhance the usability of metamaterials by redesigning them to strengthen their interaction with light, thus making them suitable for industrial applications.
Continuous wave excitation for low power Magnetic Resonance Imaging. This project aims to augment the capabilities of Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) systems, using continuous wave (CW) transmission and signal reception, to image objects using very low excitation power. Any given MRI sequence tries to solve an inverse problem, involving estimation of some subset of hidden states and parameters of the system, given the observed data. Using transient and steady-state CW magnetisation dynamics to ....Continuous wave excitation for low power Magnetic Resonance Imaging. This project aims to augment the capabilities of Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) systems, using continuous wave (CW) transmission and signal reception, to image objects using very low excitation power. Any given MRI sequence tries to solve an inverse problem, involving estimation of some subset of hidden states and parameters of the system, given the observed data. Using transient and steady-state CW magnetisation dynamics to solve inverse problems is expected to advance technology toward lower power, lower cost solutions for MRI scanners in healthcare and industrial applications, including materials science and mineral processing.Read moreRead less
Breaking bandwidth barriers: Non-volatile tuneable terahertz metamaterials. This project aims to investigate non-volatile tuneable terahertz (THz) metamaterials, based on the exploitation of phase change materials. Tuneable metamaterial-based THz devices, such as filters and modulators, could generate significant downstream intellectual property for wireless applications. This fills a critical need to meet the increasing demand for greater bandwidth between desktop devices. Expected outcomes inc ....Breaking bandwidth barriers: Non-volatile tuneable terahertz metamaterials. This project aims to investigate non-volatile tuneable terahertz (THz) metamaterials, based on the exploitation of phase change materials. Tuneable metamaterial-based THz devices, such as filters and modulators, could generate significant downstream intellectual property for wireless applications. This fills a critical need to meet the increasing demand for greater bandwidth between desktop devices. Expected outcomes include understanding the interaction between THz signals and phase change materials, tuneable metamaterials, and devices that can steer and modulate THz signals with unprecedented agility and compactness, enabling future high-bandwidth Bluetooth-like data transfer.Read moreRead less
Nonlinear optical effects with low-power non-laser light. This project aims to allow the use of low-cost, low-intensity light sources, such as light-emitting diodes and discharge lamps, to generate nonlinear optical signals in photonic devices. Nonlinear optical effects are vital for telecommunication and signal processing technologies and are presently possible only when the light is produced by a high-power laser. The expected outcome of this project is a theoretical and experimental framework ....Nonlinear optical effects with low-power non-laser light. This project aims to allow the use of low-cost, low-intensity light sources, such as light-emitting diodes and discharge lamps, to generate nonlinear optical signals in photonic devices. Nonlinear optical effects are vital for telecommunication and signal processing technologies and are presently possible only when the light is produced by a high-power laser. The expected outcome of this project is a theoretical and experimental framework that would underpin the development of a new nonlinear photonic technology that does not require lasers, representing a paradigm shift in how photonic devices are designed. This should benefit sensing, telecommunications and defence by cheaper and more efficient transmission of information via media such as the National Broadband Network.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
Interactive learning for robots in human environments. This project aims to develop robots that can interact with and learn from humans to quickly and safely learn new skills. Recent advances in robotics and artificial intelligence are poised to transform our economy, workplaces and homes, and even the organisation of society, however these advances are limited by robots’ inability to learn and adapt in uncertain environments. The outcomes of this project are expected to include new validated me ....Interactive learning for robots in human environments. This project aims to develop robots that can interact with and learn from humans to quickly and safely learn new skills. Recent advances in robotics and artificial intelligence are poised to transform our economy, workplaces and homes, and even the organisation of society, however these advances are limited by robots’ inability to learn and adapt in uncertain environments. The outcomes of this project are expected to include new validated methods and frameworks to enable robots to be used by non-experts and to be quickly deployed in a variety of settings. This is anticipated to provide transformative benefits, improving safety and productivity in the workspace, and enabling improved comfort, convenience and quality of life in the home.Read moreRead less