Navigating under the forest canopy and in the urban jungle. This project aims to develop a framework for unmanned aerial vehicles (UAV), which optimally balances localisation, mapping and other objectives in order to solve sequential decision tasks under map and pose uncertainty. This project expects to generate new knowledge in UAV navigation using an innovative approach by combining simultaneous localisation and mapping algorithms with partially observable markov decision processes. The proje ....Navigating under the forest canopy and in the urban jungle. This project aims to develop a framework for unmanned aerial vehicles (UAV), which optimally balances localisation, mapping and other objectives in order to solve sequential decision tasks under map and pose uncertainty. This project expects to generate new knowledge in UAV navigation using an innovative approach by combining simultaneous localisation and mapping algorithms with partially observable markov decision processes. The project’s expected outcomes will enable UAVs to solve multiple objectives under map and pose uncertainty in GPS-denied environments. This will provide significant benefits, such as more responsive disaster management, bushfire monitoring and biosecurity, and improved environmental monitoring.Read moreRead less
When every second counts: Multi-drone navigation in GPS-denied environments. The aim of this research is to develop a framework for multiple Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (UAV), that balances information sharing, exploration, localization, mapping, and other planning objectives thus allowing a team of UAVs to navigate in complex environments in time critical situations. This project expects to generate new knowledge in UAV navigation using an innovative approach by combining Simultaneous Localizatio ....When every second counts: Multi-drone navigation in GPS-denied environments. The aim of this research is to develop a framework for multiple Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (UAV), that balances information sharing, exploration, localization, mapping, and other planning objectives thus allowing a team of UAVs to navigate in complex environments in time critical situations. This project expects to generate new knowledge in UAV navigation using an innovative approach by combining Simultaneous Localization and Mapping (SLAM) algorithms with Partially Observable Markov Decision Processes (POMDP) and Deep Reinforcement learning. This should provide significant benefits, such as more responsive search and rescue inside collapsed buildings or underground mines, as well as fast target detection and mapping under the tree canopy. Read moreRead less
Mach 10 Hydrogen fuelled scramjet development. Safe and economic access to space is a major technological challenge of the 21st century. Airbreathing engines, in particular, scramjets offer the potential to meet this challenge. The project aims to develop an understanding of the engineering and physical principals that determines the performance of a class of scramjet operating at hypervelocity speeds (>3km/s). Novel and innovative ideas will be explored which for the first time will provide ....Mach 10 Hydrogen fuelled scramjet development. Safe and economic access to space is a major technological challenge of the 21st century. Airbreathing engines, in particular, scramjets offer the potential to meet this challenge. The project aims to develop an understanding of the engineering and physical principals that determines the performance of a class of scramjet operating at hypervelocity speeds (>3km/s). Novel and innovative ideas will be explored which for the first time will provide the understandings necessary to make well founded predictions of the cost effectiveness of this approach, as well as provide the blue print to develop an engine which can operate at Mach 10.Read moreRead less
Radiating hypersonic flows. Benefits will accrue through the involvement of Australia in the international program for future space missions. Through this project, Australia, already among the leaders in scramjet propulsion development, can also become a major player in spacecraft design. Significant educational benefits will be created due to the challenging nature of the work, through immediate contact with leading overseas researchers, and through subsequent marketing of flight vehicles. The ....Radiating hypersonic flows. Benefits will accrue through the involvement of Australia in the international program for future space missions. Through this project, Australia, already among the leaders in scramjet propulsion development, can also become a major player in spacecraft design. Significant educational benefits will be created due to the challenging nature of the work, through immediate contact with leading overseas researchers, and through subsequent marketing of flight vehicles. The project could lead to the involvement of Australian technology at a commercial level in a new generation of hardware for space exploration.Read moreRead less
Hypervelocity re-entry. Addressing a critical area of space travel and its practical utilisation it will help expand a key technology niche which will facilitate our involvement in major programs of the future. In international space programs each participant provides a unique technical contribution and shares in the intellectual and economic returns. Educational benefits arise due to the challenging nature of the work, contact with overseas researchers, and through the marketing and developm ....Hypervelocity re-entry. Addressing a critical area of space travel and its practical utilisation it will help expand a key technology niche which will facilitate our involvement in major programs of the future. In international space programs each participant provides a unique technical contribution and shares in the intellectual and economic returns. Educational benefits arise due to the challenging nature of the work, contact with overseas researchers, and through the marketing and development of flight vehicles and associated technology. There will be opportunity for our graduates to be employed in senior positions overseas, and to subsequently return to Australia with advanced skills and facilitate Australian collaboration from positions of influence.Read moreRead less
Wind Tunnel Testing of a Hypersonic Plasma Engine. This project intends to evaluate an electric engine that is capable of speeds in excess of 10000 km/hr, for access to space and responsive surveillance in our region. The expertise of Lockheed Martin, Lockheed Martin Australia, the University of Qld and DST Group are to be combined to complete experimental and theoretical evaluations of an air-breathing plasma engine that is capable of out-performing rockets and scramjets. US Air Force Research ....Wind Tunnel Testing of a Hypersonic Plasma Engine. This project intends to evaluate an electric engine that is capable of speeds in excess of 10000 km/hr, for access to space and responsive surveillance in our region. The expertise of Lockheed Martin, Lockheed Martin Australia, the University of Qld and DST Group are to be combined to complete experimental and theoretical evaluations of an air-breathing plasma engine that is capable of out-performing rockets and scramjets. US Air Force Research Laboratory results will also be compared and shared. This project provides opportunities for young Australian researchers to be participate and lead an exciting new field of propulsion. It is anticipated that the program will be the foundations to future flight demonstrations from Woomera, Australia.Read moreRead less
Dispersion of spacecraft components during re-entry. Destructive re-entry trajectories for used satellites are designed so debris remaining after re-entry falls harmlessly to the Earth. However, the dramatic increase in the mass of orbiting objects has outpaced improvements in predicting hazardous impact zones. This project aims to develop the experimental and theoretical methods needed to study separation of objects in hypersonic flow in order to better predict the dispersion of debris from re- ....Dispersion of spacecraft components during re-entry. Destructive re-entry trajectories for used satellites are designed so debris remaining after re-entry falls harmlessly to the Earth. However, the dramatic increase in the mass of orbiting objects has outpaced improvements in predicting hazardous impact zones. This project aims to develop the experimental and theoretical methods needed to study separation of objects in hypersonic flow in order to better predict the dispersion of debris from re-entering space objects. New hypersonic wind tunnel experiments, modelling, and computational simulations will be performed to enhance our understanding and improve predictions of how spacecraft components are dispersed during re-entry.Read moreRead less
Discovery Early Career Researcher Award - Grant ID: DE200101674
Funder
Australian Research Council
Funding Amount
$392,310.00
Summary
Novel Testing of a Supersonic Airbreathing Rotating Detonation Engine. Rotating detonation engines offer the potential for improved propulsive efficiency in high speed flight, but the challenges of integrating the advanced detonation combustion process with an airbreathing engine inlet are yet to be met. This project aims to develop a unique Australian testing capability for airbreathing rotating detonation engines and, utilising this capability, to generate unique experimental data to further t ....Novel Testing of a Supersonic Airbreathing Rotating Detonation Engine. Rotating detonation engines offer the potential for improved propulsive efficiency in high speed flight, but the challenges of integrating the advanced detonation combustion process with an airbreathing engine inlet are yet to be met. This project aims to develop a unique Australian testing capability for airbreathing rotating detonation engines and, utilising this capability, to generate unique experimental data to further the operational understanding of airbreathing rotation detonation engines. By contributing essential research to this new engine concept, Australia can forge intellectual capital and international partnerships, and help provide the benefits of cost and weight savings associated with higher performance engines.Read moreRead less
Remote diagnostics for space-access flight testing. Aerospace flight testing is essential for assessing the reliability of space-access technologies including re-usable rockets and hypersonic air-breathing systems. Development of such technologies relies on acquisition of optical data in video and scientific formats, and such capabilities are now required in Australia. By leveraging contributions to international missions, this project develops the essential optical diagnostic tools and techniqu ....Remote diagnostics for space-access flight testing. Aerospace flight testing is essential for assessing the reliability of space-access technologies including re-usable rockets and hypersonic air-breathing systems. Development of such technologies relies on acquisition of optical data in video and scientific formats, and such capabilities are now required in Australia. By leveraging contributions to international missions, this project develops the essential optical diagnostic tools and techniques and establishes an enduring capability for space-access flight testing in Australia, thereby accelerating the research and development pathways for Australian enterprises and designating Australia as a prime destination for international aerospace businesses. Read moreRead less