Investigation of novel magneto-optic materials exhibiting high Faraday figure of merit. Magneto-optical materials have a wide range of potential applications in consumer products, telecommunications and defence. Nanotechnologies based on these materials offer an even broader range of emerging applications. Understanding and participating in the development of magneto-optic technologies will therefore be critical to maintaining Australia's knowledge base and expertise in future technological adv ....Investigation of novel magneto-optic materials exhibiting high Faraday figure of merit. Magneto-optical materials have a wide range of potential applications in consumer products, telecommunications and defence. Nanotechnologies based on these materials offer an even broader range of emerging applications. Understanding and participating in the development of magneto-optic technologies will therefore be critical to maintaining Australia's knowledge base and expertise in future technological advances. Given the early stages of development of these technologies, Australia's expertise in material science and the patent rights held by Australian companies in this area, Australia has the opportunity to make major contributions to this field, and the potential to capitalise on the application of these technologies in niche markets.Read moreRead less
Development of a High Integrity Airborne Navigation Sensor for Aviation Communities using Terrestrial Based Infrastructure. The widespread adoption of GPS for aviation, which will allow safer and cheaper air-travel, is hindered by the lack of integrity (truth) information in the system. This research will develop new methodologies, based on low-cost MEMS sensors, to improve the integrity availability of the GPS when augmented with the Ground-based Regional GPS Augmentation System (GRAS). These m ....Development of a High Integrity Airborne Navigation Sensor for Aviation Communities using Terrestrial Based Infrastructure. The widespread adoption of GPS for aviation, which will allow safer and cheaper air-travel, is hindered by the lack of integrity (truth) information in the system. This research will develop new methodologies, based on low-cost MEMS sensors, to improve the integrity availability of the GPS when augmented with the Ground-based Regional GPS Augmentation System (GRAS). These methodologies will be used in the development of next generation airborne navigation sensors. The work builds on the world-leading position that Airservices Australia has made in the development of the GRAS, the navigation expertise of GPSat Systems and the GPS expertise of the QUT.Read moreRead less
Noise-free Cryogenic Wavefront Sensing. This project aims to optimise the prototype adaptive optics technology for the Giant Magellan Telescope (GMT) by leveraging past investment in adaptive optics instrumentation and shortwave infrared detector systems. This project expects to generate significant improvements in GMT performance, with ten times greater image resolution than the Hubble Space Telescope and current estimates of >90% sky coverage, compared with ~50% coverage for current technology ....Noise-free Cryogenic Wavefront Sensing. This project aims to optimise the prototype adaptive optics technology for the Giant Magellan Telescope (GMT) by leveraging past investment in adaptive optics instrumentation and shortwave infrared detector systems. This project expects to generate significant improvements in GMT performance, with ten times greater image resolution than the Hubble Space Telescope and current estimates of >90% sky coverage, compared with ~50% coverage for current technology. Expected outcomes of this project include the development of a highly trained workforce and continued international collaboration in the field of high-technology sensor systems. This contribution to the GMT will provide significant benefits—it will change the way we view the Universe.Read moreRead less
Development of Internet-based Kinematic GPS Solutions for Local and Regional Positioning Services. This interdisciplinary project develops a highly novel total network strategy for real-time kinematic GPS positioning services using the Internet communication protocols for data transmission. The proposed system is technically superior to existing network-based differential GPS (DGPS) systems, by providing positioning services at different accuracy levels (metre to centimetre) with reduced operati ....Development of Internet-based Kinematic GPS Solutions for Local and Regional Positioning Services. This interdisciplinary project develops a highly novel total network strategy for real-time kinematic GPS positioning services using the Internet communication protocols for data transmission. The proposed system is technically superior to existing network-based differential GPS (DGPS) systems, by providing positioning services at different accuracy levels (metre to centimetre) with reduced operational cost to users. The research focuses on improved network operations and processing, along with developing user-specific algorithms. The outcomes are expected to provide significant opportunities for both real time and near-real-time kinematic positioning applications and commercialisations of such services, in urban and regional areas of Australia.Read moreRead less
Integrated Cooling Enhancement Technology for Power Electronics. This project aims to develop an unprecedented integrated cooling enhancement technology (IceTech) for silicon carbide on silicon power electronics. IceTech represents a radical departure from current failure-prone packaging solutions. The project aims to elucidate the fundamental interactions between magnetism, heat and mass transfer and apply them to cooling. In partnership with SPTS Technologies, the project then aims to develop ....Integrated Cooling Enhancement Technology for Power Electronics. This project aims to develop an unprecedented integrated cooling enhancement technology (IceTech) for silicon carbide on silicon power electronics. IceTech represents a radical departure from current failure-prone packaging solutions. The project aims to elucidate the fundamental interactions between magnetism, heat and mass transfer and apply them to cooling. In partnership with SPTS Technologies, the project then aims to develop fabrication processes for integrating microchannels and highly sensitive integrated silicon carbide temperature sensors into a chip. This novel fabrication technology allows for the implementation of the revolutionary enhanced cooling concept using two-phase flow with magnetic liquid plugs.Read moreRead less
Membrane distillation development for concentrated solar thermal systems. Membrane distillation development for concentrated solar thermal systems. This project aims to develop a new membrane distillation module that works with a high efficiency solar thermal tower system. Fresh water and energy are inextricably linked and form the basis for all human activity. Remote locations in Australia and the Middle East and North Africa are blessed with abundant solar resources and increasing levels of de ....Membrane distillation development for concentrated solar thermal systems. Membrane distillation development for concentrated solar thermal systems. This project aims to develop a new membrane distillation module that works with a high efficiency solar thermal tower system. Fresh water and energy are inextricably linked and form the basis for all human activity. Remote locations in Australia and the Middle East and North Africa are blessed with abundant solar resources and increasing levels of development, but burdened by access to reliable water treatment and electricity generation facilities. This project will use recently developed materials and design tools to overcome technical challenges that limited membrane distillation technology. This is expected to open up an innovative method for co-production of water and electricity which can handle transient solar and water quality inputs.Read moreRead less
Silicon-Carbide Switches for Post-Silicon Efficiency of Power Electronics. The aim of this project is to create a prototype of a silicon carbide (SiC)-based power-electronic switch for improved energy efficiency and reduced size of power-electronic circuits, well beyond the theoretical limits of silicon technology. Until very recently, the dominant controlled switch in electronics could only be implemented as a silicon transistor. A new method of electronic passivation of SiC surfaces has enable ....Silicon-Carbide Switches for Post-Silicon Efficiency of Power Electronics. The aim of this project is to create a prototype of a silicon carbide (SiC)-based power-electronic switch for improved energy efficiency and reduced size of power-electronic circuits, well beyond the theoretical limits of silicon technology. Until very recently, the dominant controlled switch in electronics could only be implemented as a silicon transistor. A new method of electronic passivation of SiC surfaces has enabled the recent commercialisation of SiC transistors. It is expected that the material advantages of SiC can be fully exploited by a new device structure and a new fabrication process.Read moreRead less
Deep Downunder: designing a deep-sea exploration and discovery capability for Australia. Exploration of the deep-sea with the modern technologies to be developed by Deep-Downunder is a first for Australia. We aim to explore and discover life at depths from 50-3000m off The Great Barrier Reef, around the seamounts of Lord Howe Island and Tasmania and in the deep canyons of WA and SA. We expect to discover new species, hope for a glimpse of giant squid at home and will answer specific questions on ....Deep Downunder: designing a deep-sea exploration and discovery capability for Australia. Exploration of the deep-sea with the modern technologies to be developed by Deep-Downunder is a first for Australia. We aim to explore and discover life at depths from 50-3000m off The Great Barrier Reef, around the seamounts of Lord Howe Island and Tasmania and in the deep canyons of WA and SA. We expect to discover new species, hope for a glimpse of giant squid at home and will answer specific questions on Australia's ocean biology, fisheries and biotechnology never before approachable. To be effective guardians of Australian waters we must learn what lies in the depths we can't see from a boat.Read moreRead less
Airports of the Future. This project will enhance the capabilities of Australian airport operators to design and manage complex airport systems. Research outcomes will enable the identification of patterns of behaviour and will provide tools to manage airport effectiveness and balance conflicting security, economic and passenger-driven pressures. Outcomes will improve productivity, enhance capabilities for critical infrastructure protection, and lessen the cost of mandated security, estimated t ....Airports of the Future. This project will enhance the capabilities of Australian airport operators to design and manage complex airport systems. Research outcomes will enable the identification of patterns of behaviour and will provide tools to manage airport effectiveness and balance conflicting security, economic and passenger-driven pressures. Outcomes will improve productivity, enhance capabilities for critical infrastructure protection, and lessen the cost of mandated security, estimated to grow to $152M by 2010 for the five major Australian airports. The deliverables of this project will be transferable to other complex socio-technical systems providing the potential to transform a range of Australian critical infrastructure and transportation hubs.Read moreRead less
Scalable nanomechanical information processing. This project aims to build the first scalable computer architecture based on nanoscale motion on a silicon chip. Such nanomechanical computers could extend computing performance in space and earth-orbit applications, and in other environments where intense radiation causes digital electronics to fail. The project intends to utilise recent advances in nanomechanics and nanofabrication to demonstrate all key nanomechanical circuit elements, including ....Scalable nanomechanical information processing. This project aims to build the first scalable computer architecture based on nanoscale motion on a silicon chip. Such nanomechanical computers could extend computing performance in space and earth-orbit applications, and in other environments where intense radiation causes digital electronics to fail. The project intends to utilise recent advances in nanomechanics and nanofabrication to demonstrate all key nanomechanical circuit elements, including transistors, logic gates, memories and analogue-to-digital converters and to deliver a roadmap for commercialisation of the technology in Australia. The expected outcome of this project is the development of the underpinning nanotechnologies, predicted to have wide uses in sensing, health and communications,and which could improve heat management and energy efficiency in future computers. This new approach to computing has potential for near-term commercial impact in the aerospace industry, building on Australian know-how.Read moreRead less