Development of an integrated methodology to assess dewatering system performance in solid-liquid separation. 3D visualisations of microstructures are possible with techniques such as confocal laser microscopy and high resolution X-ray microtomography. Data obtained in-situ enable direct computation of solids assembly properties and their permeability to fluids. A specific application involving aggregate formation and sediment networks could be evaluated through micro-scale analysis combined with ....Development of an integrated methodology to assess dewatering system performance in solid-liquid separation. 3D visualisations of microstructures are possible with techniques such as confocal laser microscopy and high resolution X-ray microtomography. Data obtained in-situ enable direct computation of solids assembly properties and their permeability to fluids. A specific application involving aggregate formation and sediment networks could be evaluated through micro-scale analysis combined with robust fluid flow simulations. The method can potentially be utilized to predict trends such as filtration behaviour of materials under different states of compression. This offers significant benefits in formulating the design of flocculated systems pertinent to a number of industrial sectors wishing to design optimum solid-liquid separation processes.Read moreRead less
Nanolayer Degradation Deposits on Cold Rolled Steel Strip: The Influence of Rolling Oil Emulsions in Sequential Oxidative and Reductive Environments. Cold rolled steel strip, produced by BHP Steel, is a precursor material for production of internationally recognised Australian products ZINCALUMER Steel and COLORBONDR Steel. Lubricating oils supplied by Quaker Chemical are used during the cold rolling process. When exposed to the direct fired annealing process, nanolayer surface residues can de ....Nanolayer Degradation Deposits on Cold Rolled Steel Strip: The Influence of Rolling Oil Emulsions in Sequential Oxidative and Reductive Environments. Cold rolled steel strip, produced by BHP Steel, is a precursor material for production of internationally recognised Australian products ZINCALUMER Steel and COLORBONDR Steel. Lubricating oils supplied by Quaker Chemical are used during the cold rolling process. When exposed to the direct fired annealing process, nanolayer surface residues can develop from rolling oil films and adversely affect subsequent steel surface wetting by the molten zinc alloy. This collaborative research project will investigate the fundamental nature of nanolayer residue formation, using advanced thermal and surface analysis techniques, with the aim of determining the factors influencing residue formation and reducing their impact.Read moreRead less
High-Fidelity Modelling for Robotic-Assisted Minimally Invasive Needle Insertion. This project will develop robotic-assisted needle insertion and greatly improve minimally invasive surgery. It will also enhance the establishment of intellectual property for Australian medicine and produce important benefits to the healthcare sector. The proposed symbiotic integration of the systems will advance modelling technologies, and further create new capabilities for a wide range of science and engineerin ....High-Fidelity Modelling for Robotic-Assisted Minimally Invasive Needle Insertion. This project will develop robotic-assisted needle insertion and greatly improve minimally invasive surgery. It will also enhance the establishment of intellectual property for Australian medicine and produce important benefits to the healthcare sector. The proposed symbiotic integration of the systems will advance modelling technologies, and further create new capabilities for a wide range of science and engineering applications. The established methodologies and systems will also provide great potential benefits in many other areas, including microbiology, life sciences and bio/nano-technology. The project's outcomes will further consolidate Australia's position in innovative technologies and international research and development.Read moreRead less
Linkage Infrastructure, Equipment And Facilities - Grant ID: LE0668446
Funder
Australian Research Council
Funding Amount
$530,000.00
Summary
Nano-positioning facility for nano-scale measurement and manipulation. Nanotechnology is the science of understanding and control of matter at dimensions of 100 nanometers or less. Encompassing nanoscale science, engineering, and technology, nanotechnology involves imaging, measuring, modeling, and manipulation of matter at this level of precision. An important aspect of research in nanotechnology involves precision control and manipulation of devices and materials at a nanoscale, i.e. nanoposi ....Nano-positioning facility for nano-scale measurement and manipulation. Nanotechnology is the science of understanding and control of matter at dimensions of 100 nanometers or less. Encompassing nanoscale science, engineering, and technology, nanotechnology involves imaging, measuring, modeling, and manipulation of matter at this level of precision. An important aspect of research in nanotechnology involves precision control and manipulation of devices and materials at a nanoscale, i.e. nanopositioning. The primary goal of this proposal is the establishment of an experimental nanopositioning research facility to enable the development of a new generation of nanopositioners. Establishment of the facility will give Australia's nanotechnology researchers a unique enabling facility in this high-tech field.Read moreRead less
Special Research Initiatives - Grant ID: SR0567533
Funder
Australian Research Council
Funding Amount
$120,000.00
Summary
Scientific Instruments as ICT Components in Building a GrEMLIN for e-Research. The proposal seeks to initiate the development of a GrEMLIN, a Grid Enabled Multi-Level Instrument Network, for e-Research. Scientific instruments, whether at conventional laboratories or at major facilities, may be regarded as specialised ICT components in a network providing remote access to such instrumentation. Collaborative remote access and data analysis brings efficiency and effectiveness dividends, that can ....Scientific Instruments as ICT Components in Building a GrEMLIN for e-Research. The proposal seeks to initiate the development of a GrEMLIN, a Grid Enabled Multi-Level Instrument Network, for e-Research. Scientific instruments, whether at conventional laboratories or at major facilities, may be regarded as specialised ICT components in a network providing remote access to such instrumentation. Collaborative remote access and data analysis brings efficiency and effectiveness dividends, that can be enhanced through the harnessing of Grid technologies. The collaborative project will leverage middleware, Web Services and e-Science software developments in the US and UK, to provide Grid enabled remote instrument access and data analysis as a powerful e-Research tool.Read moreRead less
Advanced model-based control for ultra-fast and ultra-high-precision nanoscale positioning. Australia faces unique challenges due to its small population and distance from international markets. To maintain a high standard of living Australia needs to further develop its high-tech base particularly in emerging fields such as nanotechnology. This research program is aimed at placing Australia at the forefront of international research in nanoscale positioning systems by building a world-class tea ....Advanced model-based control for ultra-fast and ultra-high-precision nanoscale positioning. Australia faces unique challenges due to its small population and distance from international markets. To maintain a high standard of living Australia needs to further develop its high-tech base particularly in emerging fields such as nanotechnology. This research program is aimed at placing Australia at the forefront of international research in nanoscale positioning systems by building a world-class team of talented researchers and equipping them with world-class research infrastructure. The global market for nanotechnology is projected to be in the tens of billions of dollars by 2020. The proposed research will enhance Australia's competitive advantage through high-impact scientific and technological innovations in nanotechnology.Read moreRead less
Advanced Control of Dual-Stage Hard Disk Drives. The project is of significant scientific merit, resulting in solutions to open problems in control of dual-stage hard disk drive systems. This will contribute to the maintenance of Australia's international research profile, help maintain its internal research vitality and also enhance the advanced engineering base of the country. An important benefit of this research is the direct application of developed ideas to the next generation data storage ....Advanced Control of Dual-Stage Hard Disk Drives. The project is of significant scientific merit, resulting in solutions to open problems in control of dual-stage hard disk drive systems. This will contribute to the maintenance of Australia's international research profile, help maintain its internal research vitality and also enhance the advanced engineering base of the country. An important benefit of this research is the direct application of developed ideas to the next generation data storage systems. The completion of this project will directly benefit Australia's developing high-tech industries.Read moreRead less
Robust Control of Electrostatic Microactuators. This proposal seeks to address a number of fundamental problems associated with electrostatic microactuators that form an integral part of microelectromechanical systems (MEMS). Performance of these microactuators is limited due to the presence of a specific form of nonlinearity in their dynamics. In this research advanced and innovative feedback controllers will be developed to improve operational performance of such microactuators. The global ME ....Robust Control of Electrostatic Microactuators. This proposal seeks to address a number of fundamental problems associated with electrostatic microactuators that form an integral part of microelectromechanical systems (MEMS). Performance of these microactuators is limited due to the presence of a specific form of nonlinearity in their dynamics. In this research advanced and innovative feedback controllers will be developed to improve operational performance of such microactuators. The global MEMS market is projected to increase from $10B in 2005 to $40B in 2015. This project will enhance Australia's standing in this important high-tech field.
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Analysis, Optimization, and Control of Scanning Atomic Force Microscope Micro-Cantilever Probes. Atomic Force Microscopes (AFM's) are widely used for the examination of samples smaller than can be observed with an optical microscope. A tiny 'finger', only a few atoms wide at its sharpest point, is used to 'feel' the surface of a sample. This project aims to increase the resolution of AFM images by actively controlling the sensor probe dynamics.
Better quality AFM images would allow scientists ....Analysis, Optimization, and Control of Scanning Atomic Force Microscope Micro-Cantilever Probes. Atomic Force Microscopes (AFM's) are widely used for the examination of samples smaller than can be observed with an optical microscope. A tiny 'finger', only a few atoms wide at its sharpest point, is used to 'feel' the surface of a sample. This project aims to increase the resolution of AFM images by actively controlling the sensor probe dynamics.
Better quality AFM images would allow scientists to further investigate the atomic and molecular structure of such samples as: metals, polymers, cells, and proteins.
This research will contribute to the design of an Australian made Scanning Probe Microscope. Development of local expertise will provide a valuable resource for Australian scientific and industrial research.
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Robust Control and System Identification of Highly Resonant Systems. The modelling and control of complex and highly resonant systems is of increasing engineering importance due to their occurence in a wide variety of emerging areas in aerospace, acoustics, robotics and ``smart'' structures. At the same time, effective tools tailored towards identifying the necessary models, and synthesising the necessary controllers for these systems are in their infancy. This arises from special difficulties ....Robust Control and System Identification of Highly Resonant Systems. The modelling and control of complex and highly resonant systems is of increasing engineering importance due to their occurence in a wide variety of emerging areas in aerospace, acoustics, robotics and ``smart'' structures. At the same time, effective tools tailored towards identifying the necessary models, and synthesising the necessary controllers for these systems are in their infancy. This arises from special difficulties encountered via the high dimensionality of the structures involved. This research project will employ new methods from the fields of robust control and multivariable system identification theory to lead to new and high performance solutions in this area.Read moreRead less