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.
Understanding the fate and transport of selected biomarkers in sewers. This project aims to improve estimates of population drug use and chemical exposure by systematically studying the fate of drugs, organic pollutants (e.g. pesticides) and human biomarkers in sewers. The project aims to combine advanced experimental sewer research facilities with an analytical set-up and modelling expertise to address critical gaps in our knowledge of the fate of chemicals in sewers. The information could be u ....Understanding the fate and transport of selected biomarkers in sewers. This project aims to improve estimates of population drug use and chemical exposure by systematically studying the fate of drugs, organic pollutants (e.g. pesticides) and human biomarkers in sewers. The project aims to combine advanced experimental sewer research facilities with an analytical set-up and modelling expertise to address critical gaps in our knowledge of the fate of chemicals in sewers. The information could be used to provide accurate, cost-effective and near real-time estimates of chemicals entering the sewer system which could allow us to better estimate changes in population drug use, chemical exposure and health status.Read moreRead less
Microcantilevers for multifrequency atomic force microscopy. This project aims to design a microcantilever with high-performing sensors more sensitive and with better noise performance than the typical optical system used in commercial Atomic Force Microscopes (AFMs). The AFM, a nanotechnology instrument, uses a microcantilever (with an extremely shape probe) to interrogate a sample surface. It has made important discoveries in nanotechnology, life sciences, nanomachining, material science and d ....Microcantilevers for multifrequency atomic force microscopy. This project aims to design a microcantilever with high-performing sensors more sensitive and with better noise performance than the typical optical system used in commercial Atomic Force Microscopes (AFMs). The AFM, a nanotechnology instrument, uses a microcantilever (with an extremely shape probe) to interrogate a sample surface. It has made important discoveries in nanotechnology, life sciences, nanomachining, material science and data storage systems. Despite its success, the technique’s spatial resolution and quantitative measurements are limited. This project could lead to breakthrough technologies such as atomic force spectroscopy to study elastic modulus of nanostructures, and establish Australia's prominence in this emerging field.Read moreRead less
Subsurface Atomic Force Microscopy using Dual Probes. The proposal aims to develop a new microscopy method for imaging nano-scale structures buried below the surface of a sample; for example, metal conductors in a computer processor chip. The expected outcome is a new method for creating subsurface images with an application focus on semiconductor device inspection and quality control. The proposed microscope is expected to create new economic opportunities including new commercial products, int ....Subsurface Atomic Force Microscopy using Dual Probes. The proposal aims to develop a new microscopy method for imaging nano-scale structures buried below the surface of a sample; for example, metal conductors in a computer processor chip. The expected outcome is a new method for creating subsurface images with an application focus on semiconductor device inspection and quality control. The proposed microscope is expected to create new economic opportunities including new commercial products, intellectual property, and the potential for a start-up venture. The benefits to Australia should include the creation of new job opportunities and the development of local expertise in a high-value market sector.Read moreRead less
Industrial Transformation Training Centres - Grant ID: IC180100024
Funder
Australian Research Council
Funding Amount
$4,000,000.00
Summary
ARC Training Centre for Medical Implant Technologies. The ARC Training Centre for Medical Implant Technologies aims to train a new generation of interdisciplinary engineers and to transform the orthopaedic and maxillofacial implant industry in Australia. In collaboration with industry, universities and hospitals, the Centre will build a dynamic training environment for interdisciplinary engineers to develop and evaluate personalised implants and surgeries. It will create new networks, internatio ....ARC Training Centre for Medical Implant Technologies. The ARC Training Centre for Medical Implant Technologies aims to train a new generation of interdisciplinary engineers and to transform the orthopaedic and maxillofacial implant industry in Australia. In collaboration with industry, universities and hospitals, the Centre will build a dynamic training environment for interdisciplinary engineers to develop and evaluate personalised implants and surgeries. It will create new networks, international collaborations and a generation of industry-ready researchers critical for growing Australia’s industry. The advances in materials and savings in time for procedures will reduce costs.
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Real-time friction sensing, feedback and control for dexterous prosthetic and robotic manipulation. Prosthetic and robotic hands demonstrate poor dexterity during object manipulation, often dropping objects. Humans rarely allow objects to slip because we can sense when an object is slippery and adjust our grip. Exceptionally little research has been directed at replicating this ability to sense friction. This project aims to enable artificial hands to estimate frictional properties while graspin ....Real-time friction sensing, feedback and control for dexterous prosthetic and robotic manipulation. Prosthetic and robotic hands demonstrate poor dexterity during object manipulation, often dropping objects. Humans rarely allow objects to slip because we can sense when an object is slippery and adjust our grip. Exceptionally little research has been directed at replicating this ability to sense friction. This project aims to enable artificial hands to estimate frictional properties while grasping an object. Non-invasive methods to feed back this frictional information to an amputee will also be investigated. Finally, the friction-sensing system will be used to improve robotic gripper control. The outcomes of this research will significantly advance the fields of prosthetics, telesurgery, and service and manufacturing robotics.Read moreRead less
Linkage Infrastructure, Equipment And Facilities - Grant ID: LE210100184
Funder
Australian Research Council
Funding Amount
$183,437.00
Summary
Femtoliter Liquid Deposition Facility. This project aims to create a research capacity for direct printing of femtolitre volumes of functional liquids onto devices and surfaces. This project expects to enable the development of new sensing and electronic devices that require a novel fabrication step with delicate materials that cannot be deposited using existing processes. Expected outcomes include new chemical and biological sensors created through collaborative research between the partner in ....Femtoliter Liquid Deposition Facility. This project aims to create a research capacity for direct printing of femtolitre volumes of functional liquids onto devices and surfaces. This project expects to enable the development of new sensing and electronic devices that require a novel fabrication step with delicate materials that cannot be deposited using existing processes. Expected outcomes include new chemical and biological sensors created through collaborative research between the partner institutions and researchers. The benefits of this project should include the creation of a new rapid prototyping facility for Australian researchers, and the application of these capabilities for the development of new low-cost sensors for environmental gas sensing and glucose monitoring.Read moreRead less
Biomechanics Meets Robotics: Methods for Accurate and Fast Needle Targeting. This project intends to create a novel integrated framework for biomedical systems that can accurately target a needle. Accurate surgical targeting means less trauma and better patient outcomes. Needles are used in over half of all surgical procedures, but up to 38 per cent of these are affected by targeting errors. Achieving sub-millimetre accuracy is extremely difficult because inserting a needle displaces the tissue ....Biomechanics Meets Robotics: Methods for Accurate and Fast Needle Targeting. This project intends to create a novel integrated framework for biomedical systems that can accurately target a needle. Accurate surgical targeting means less trauma and better patient outcomes. Needles are used in over half of all surgical procedures, but up to 38 per cent of these are affected by targeting errors. Achieving sub-millimetre accuracy is extremely difficult because inserting a needle displaces the tissue and moves the target. How, then, can ultra-fine targeting be achieved? This project plans to integrate non-linear biomechanical models that predict tissue motion with accurate and principled motion control. It seeks to create new methods for surgical robots that will predict target motion and guide a needle to accurately intersect the target.Read moreRead less
A New Approach to Sampled-Data Control Design for Nonlinear Systems. This project aims to exploit new sampling and sampled-data modelling insights to bridge the continuous/sampled-data gap in the control of nonlinear systems. The goal is to investigate the impact of these insights on the control design problem and provide a new class of digital control laws for continuous time non-linear systems.
Robust control of power electronics and drives: a synthesis of traditional and model predictive control approaches. This project aims to generate high-performance strategies for the control of power converters. Through the combination of traditional and modern approaches, the project will develop methods which are more reliable and give better energy efficiency than current state of the art techniques.