Biologically-inspired detection, pursuit and interception of moving objects by unmanned aircraft systems. Although it is well known that aggressive honeybees are very effective at detecting, pursuing and intercepting moving targets, this behaviour has never been studied quantitatively. This project will use high-speed video cinematography to investigate this behaviour, to develop visual algorithms for the detection of moving targets, and to create dynamical models of the mechanisms that control ....Biologically-inspired detection, pursuit and interception of moving objects by unmanned aircraft systems. Although it is well known that aggressive honeybees are very effective at detecting, pursuing and intercepting moving targets, this behaviour has never been studied quantitatively. This project will use high-speed video cinematography to investigate this behaviour, to develop visual algorithms for the detection of moving targets, and to create dynamical models of the mechanisms that control pursuit. The resulting algorithms will be incorporated into unmanned aerial vehicles for detecting, monitoring and tracking other objects in the sky, and their performance will be evaluated. The results will provide a better understanding of the biological basis of pursuit behaviour, as well as lead to novel technologies for aerial surveillance and safety.Read moreRead less
Co-design and dynamic mission optimisation of hypersonic flight vehicles. This project aims to deliver fundamental knowledge by integrating the modelling and control with the design of next generation hypersonic platforms. In an era where Australia's national security reliance on geographic isolation and support from allied forces are being challenged, the research outcomes of this project will play an important role in understanding the capabilities of hypersonic systems. The project will also ....Co-design and dynamic mission optimisation of hypersonic flight vehicles. This project aims to deliver fundamental knowledge by integrating the modelling and control with the design of next generation hypersonic platforms. In an era where Australia's national security reliance on geographic isolation and support from allied forces are being challenged, the research outcomes of this project will play an important role in understanding the capabilities of hypersonic systems. The project will also have significant spillover benefits into other complex system domains, where computational tools can be used to aid in design leading to high embedded-IP products for Australian industry. Furthermore, the proposal encompasses a strong research training aspect, with graduates exposed to leading edge industry and academia.Read moreRead less
Cyber-Physical Security Analyses and Enhancing the Resilience of Smart Grid. The electrical power industry in Australia is undergoing a massive revolution to an intelligent, low-carbon and sustainable smart grid environment. However, due to the heavy reliance on cyber infrastructure and the intermittence of renewables, smart grid will inevitably introduce new security issues, for example, cyber security. This project is to investigate emerging security issues together in a comprehensive framewor ....Cyber-Physical Security Analyses and Enhancing the Resilience of Smart Grid. The electrical power industry in Australia is undergoing a massive revolution to an intelligent, low-carbon and sustainable smart grid environment. However, due to the heavy reliance on cyber infrastructure and the intermittence of renewables, smart grid will inevitably introduce new security issues, for example, cyber security. This project is to investigate emerging security issues together in a comprehensive framework where quantitative models and analysis methods will be explored for smart grid cascading failure analyses. Then innovative three-stage reinforcement strategies (three lines of defence) will be developed to enhance the resilience of smart grid against natural disasters and intentional attacks, and potential large blackouts. Read moreRead less
Strategies for mid-air collision avoidance in aircraft: lessons from bird flight. Birds seldom collide with each other and other objects, despite the high speeds at which they fly in complex environments. This project will examine how birds sense and avoid impending collisions, and will use these results to design novel strategies for the detection and avoidance of aircraft mid-air collisions.
Enabling the Internet of Things (IoT): structured networked control systems. Networked control systems are an emerging technology that combines control, communication and computation to deliver solutions for a range of manufacturing, safety-critical infrastructure, such as transport, defence and other Industrial Interent of Things (IIoT) applications. The current analysis and design approaches often take a ``monolithic" view of the system, which render them inadequate for addressing many importa ....Enabling the Internet of Things (IoT): structured networked control systems. Networked control systems are an emerging technology that combines control, communication and computation to deliver solutions for a range of manufacturing, safety-critical infrastructure, such as transport, defence and other Industrial Interent of Things (IIoT) applications. The current analysis and design approaches often take a ``monolithic" view of the system, which render them inadequate for addressing many important IIoT applications. This proposal will exploit specific features and structure of the plant, the communication network and the distributed computation to provide an analysis and design methodology which will deliver significant advances in control and optimised performance of IIoT with benefits to the economy and society.Read moreRead less
Linkage Infrastructure, Equipment And Facilities - Grant ID: LE120100215
Funder
Australian Research Council
Funding Amount
$300,000.00
Summary
Facility for characterisation of engineered microelectromechanical systems. This facility will provide Australian microelectromechanical (MEMS) researchers with a vital, world-class, capacity for characterisation of micro-machined devices and transducers, enabling them to compete internationally in this emerging field.
When stabilization and optimization meet: a codesign approach. The next generation of engineered systems need to perform complex tasks with precision, and be robust, resilient and adaptive to their environment enabled by the confluence of control, optimization, learning and computation Understanding the interplay between robust stability and optimization is key to this endeavor. Many techniques, such as model predictive control and reinforcement learning, rely on an intricate interplay between ....When stabilization and optimization meet: a codesign approach. The next generation of engineered systems need to perform complex tasks with precision, and be robust, resilient and adaptive to their environment enabled by the confluence of control, optimization, learning and computation Understanding the interplay between robust stability and optimization is key to this endeavor. Many techniques, such as model predictive control and reinforcement learning, rely on an intricate interplay between an optimization-based control algorithm and an optimization routine used to calculate the control law. This project aims to develop a general design framework for stability, suboptimality and robustness of such algorithms, that can be used in range of novel applications, such as driverless cars and drones. Read moreRead less
Discovery Early Career Researcher Award - Grant ID: DE120102873
Funder
Australian Research Council
Funding Amount
$375,000.00
Summary
Securing networked control and estimation systems and safeguarding critical infrastructure. The purpose of this project is to reduce the likelihood of success, and the severity of impact, of a cyber-attack against networked control and estimation systems operating within critical infrastructure. The outcome will be a suite of algorithms, tools and design considerations for networked, industrial, control systems that satisfy this purpose.
Discovery Early Career Researcher Award - Grant ID: DE160100675
Funder
Australian Research Council
Funding Amount
$308,386.00
Summary
Structural Vulnerability Analysis, Reinforcement and Defence for Smart Grid. This project intends to identify and analyse the structural vulnerabilities of the emerging ‘smart grid’ for electricity supply. The smart grid integrates a cyber network into the existing power network. Although the smart grid enables the integration of more renewable energy sources and contributes to an environmentally sustainable society, the network structure can introduce new vulnerabilities that may cause large ca ....Structural Vulnerability Analysis, Reinforcement and Defence for Smart Grid. This project intends to identify and analyse the structural vulnerabilities of the emerging ‘smart grid’ for electricity supply. The smart grid integrates a cyber network into the existing power network. Although the smart grid enables the integration of more renewable energy sources and contributes to an environmentally sustainable society, the network structure can introduce new vulnerabilities that may cause large cascading failures and lead to catastrophic blackouts. The project aims to establish a quantitative framework to analyse smart grid structural vulnerability. Furthermore, innovative reinforcement and defence strategies will be proposed that could reduce the risk of large blackout and build a more robust smart grid.Read moreRead less
Control and Optimization of Distributed Multiagent Formations. The project aims to develop a conceptual framework and algorithms for handling multi-vehicle formation control. Formations of unmanned airborne vehicles are currently used by defence forces and swarms of micro-vehicles are beginning to find increasing use in defence and for civilian emergency response, largely for surveillance purposes. Vehicles must cooperate to achieve a global formation objective, while respecting constraints on s ....Control and Optimization of Distributed Multiagent Formations. The project aims to develop a conceptual framework and algorithms for handling multi-vehicle formation control. Formations of unmanned airborne vehicles are currently used by defence forces and swarms of micro-vehicles are beginning to find increasing use in defence and for civilian emergency response, largely for surveillance purposes. Vehicles must cooperate to achieve a global formation objective, while respecting constraints on sensors, energy, and general mechanical limitations. The project aims to resolve the challenges of deciding what a single vehicle should observe, what and to where it should communicate, and how it should move in relation to what it sees. The conceptual framework developed may also be relevant in guiding future defence acquisitions and civilian applications.Read moreRead less