Distributed Estimation, Control and Optimisation for Networked Systems. This project aims to study large scale networked systems in major infrastructures including power networks, transportation networks, internet of things, and other cyber-physical systems. This project is expected to develop new methodology and algorithms for distributed estimation, control and optimisation of these systems. Distributed solutions are essential because traditional techniques which were designed for small system ....Distributed Estimation, Control and Optimisation for Networked Systems. This project aims to study large scale networked systems in major infrastructures including power networks, transportation networks, internet of things, and other cyber-physical systems. This project is expected to develop new methodology and algorithms for distributed estimation, control and optimisation of these systems. Distributed solutions are essential because traditional techniques which were designed for small systems are not suitable for efficient operations of large scale systems. Application examples include distributed state estimation for power networks, control of multi-agent systems and optimal scheduling of transportation networks. The outcomes of this project are vital to the understanding and management of these systems. Read moreRead less
Safe, Plug and Play, Multi Agent Dynamic Systems. From driverless cars, to networks of nano satellites, and complex biological networks, the modern world has many examples of multi agent dynamic systems that need careful coordination and control to perform correctly. In many cases, these systems are built up using designs based on intuition, computer simulations and empirical testing. However, there is a clear need to advance the fundamental understandings of such systems: (i) Verifiable overall ....Safe, Plug and Play, Multi Agent Dynamic Systems. From driverless cars, to networks of nano satellites, and complex biological networks, the modern world has many examples of multi agent dynamic systems that need careful coordination and control to perform correctly. In many cases, these systems are built up using designs based on intuition, computer simulations and empirical testing. However, there is a clear need to advance the fundamental understandings of such systems: (i) Verifiable overall dynamic system properties need to be derived to give assurance of performance in situations not previously envisaged; (ii) It is also critical to understand stable system behaviours not just with fixed configurations, but with agile configurations such as splitting, merging, and morphingRead moreRead less
Robust Data-Driven Control for Safety-Critical Systems. This project aims to develop new approaches to controlling robotic and cyber-physical systems in safety-critical applications. This project expects to generate new knowledge in how to harness the power of machine learning for robot control, while guaranteeing safety and stability at all times. The outcomes of this project will be new algorithms and a deeper understanding of the interplay of data, learning, and models, as well as experimenta ....Robust Data-Driven Control for Safety-Critical Systems. This project aims to develop new approaches to controlling robotic and cyber-physical systems in safety-critical applications. This project expects to generate new knowledge in how to harness the power of machine learning for robot control, while guaranteeing safety and stability at all times. The outcomes of this project will be new algorithms and a deeper understanding of the interplay of data, learning, and models, as well as experimental validation on a surgical robot and a bipedal walking robot. This project will provide significant benefits by dramatically increasing the range of applications in which the power of machine learning can be safely applied to advance the capabilities and uptake of robotics.Read moreRead less
Robustness, resilience and security of networked dynamic systems. This project will develop advanced digital control techniques to address security, resilience and robustness in complex networks and deliver fundamental advances in the technology for secure and reliable networks. The project will advance the theory on consensus of networked multi-agent systems to facilitate the fast adoption of the internet of things and the continuous growth of cyber-physical systems These systems in many cases ....Robustness, resilience and security of networked dynamic systems. This project will develop advanced digital control techniques to address security, resilience and robustness in complex networks and deliver fundamental advances in the technology for secure and reliable networks. The project will advance the theory on consensus of networked multi-agent systems to facilitate the fast adoption of the internet of things and the continuous growth of cyber-physical systems These systems in many cases work with high efficiency, stability, and low communication overheads. However, there are cases where disturbance amplification and cascading failures can arise from relatively small unforeseen events. The theoretical work will be complemented by detailed nonlinear networked simulations, using intelligent vehicle systems as a case study.Read moreRead less
Control and learning for enhancing capabilities of quantum sensors. This project aims to develop new theories and algorithms to enhance capabilities in engineering quantum sensors from the perspective of systems and control. The project is significant because it is anticipated to advance key knowledge and provide systematic methods to enable achievement of high-precision sensing for wide applications, e.g., early disease detection, medical research, discovery of ore deposits and groundwater moni ....Control and learning for enhancing capabilities of quantum sensors. This project aims to develop new theories and algorithms to enhance capabilities in engineering quantum sensors from the perspective of systems and control. The project is significant because it is anticipated to advance key knowledge and provide systematic methods to enable achievement of high-precision sensing for wide applications, e.g., early disease detection, medical research, discovery of ore deposits and groundwater monitoring. The intended outcomes are fundamental theories, effective control and learning algorithms for achieving highly-sensitive sensors. These outcomes should make important contributions to and deliver new knowledge and skills for Australia's sensing industries, which could benefit Australia's economic growth.Read moreRead less
Control of network systems with signed dynamical interconnections. New technologies such as online recommendations, smart grids, and cyber-physical systems are becoming backbone infrastructure. Such systems are operated as network systems with interconnected functioning units (agents) where cooperative and adversarial agent relations often coexist. This project aims to develop the theories and tools for designing and building dynamic networks with signed interactions that arise from a variety of ....Control of network systems with signed dynamical interconnections. New technologies such as online recommendations, smart grids, and cyber-physical systems are becoming backbone infrastructure. Such systems are operated as network systems with interconnected functioning units (agents) where cooperative and adversarial agent relations often coexist. This project aims to develop the theories and tools for designing and building dynamic networks with signed interactions that arise from a variety of applications where both cooperative and adversarial agent interactions coexist. By developing theories and algorithms for control and identification over such systems, this project will contribute directly to their safe and robust operation. The resulting theories will provide deeper understanding of network control systems and the resulting algorithms will enable the elimination of attackers and malicious users for online review systems and smart grids. This project will contribute to increased cybersecurity for all Australians.Read moreRead less
Advanced multivariable nonlinear control methodology for matrix converters. The aim of this project is to explore a specific multivariable nonlinear control design problem. Motivation for the project arises from the control of Matrix Converters. Matrix Converters are considered one of the key enabling technologies for the electric transport of the future. However, their penetration into practice has fallen short of their promise. This is, in part, due to the associated control design problem whi ....Advanced multivariable nonlinear control methodology for matrix converters. The aim of this project is to explore a specific multivariable nonlinear control design problem. Motivation for the project arises from the control of Matrix Converters. Matrix Converters are considered one of the key enabling technologies for the electric transport of the future. However, their penetration into practice has fallen short of their promise. This is, in part, due to the associated control design problem which is extremely difficult involving coupled nonlinear dynamics and under-actuation. We plan to address these problems by using modern control system design methods. Our specific goal is to achieve a provably stable, closed loop control system whose performance is independent of unmeasured disturbances and model errors.Read moreRead less
Monge-Ampere equations and applications. The Monge-Ampere equation is a premier fully nonlinear partial differential equation with significant applications in geometry, physics and applied science. Building upon breakthroughs made by the proposers in previous grant research, this project aims to resolve challenging problems involving Monge-Ampere type equations and applications. The project goal is to establish new regularity theory and classify singularity profile for solutions to Monge-Ampere ....Monge-Ampere equations and applications. The Monge-Ampere equation is a premier fully nonlinear partial differential equation with significant applications in geometry, physics and applied science. Building upon breakthroughs made by the proposers in previous grant research, this project aims to resolve challenging problems involving Monge-Ampere type equations and applications. The project goal is to establish new regularity theory and classify singularity profile for solutions to Monge-Ampere type equation arising in applied sciences, by introducing new ideas and developing innovative cutting-edge techniques. Expected outcomes include resolution of outstanding open problems and continuing enhancement of Australian leadership and expertise in a major area of mathematics.
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Robust learning of dynamic systems. Robots and other autonomous machines use models of the real world to predict the result of their actions and make decisions, but existing methods used for machine-learning are unreliable in many cases and can be easily fooled. This project aims to make machine-learning of dynamic system models reliable, accurate, and secure. The outcomes of this project will be new models and algorithms that ensure safety and increase accuracy of models learned from data. This ....Robust learning of dynamic systems. Robots and other autonomous machines use models of the real world to predict the result of their actions and make decisions, but existing methods used for machine-learning are unreliable in many cases and can be easily fooled. This project aims to make machine-learning of dynamic system models reliable, accurate, and secure. The outcomes of this project will be new models and algorithms that ensure safety and increase accuracy of models learned from data. This project will benefit robotics, control engineering, infrastructure automation, and other fields that demand the capability to model physical systems from limited data. It will also improve cybersecurity by making learning algorithms resilient to deliberate attacks with false data.Read moreRead less
Uncertainty in the social cost of carbon dioxide: control theoretic methods. This project aims to redevelop the most commonly used social cost of carbon dioxide (SC-CO2) modeling framework using the best available scientific data and state-of-the-art uncertainty quantification techniques, providing government and industry decision-makers with a robust tool to tackle a carbon-constrained future. This project will deliver improved, robust estimates of the SC-CO2, a proxy for a price on carbon emis ....Uncertainty in the social cost of carbon dioxide: control theoretic methods. This project aims to redevelop the most commonly used social cost of carbon dioxide (SC-CO2) modeling framework using the best available scientific data and state-of-the-art uncertainty quantification techniques, providing government and industry decision-makers with a robust tool to tackle a carbon-constrained future. This project will deliver improved, robust estimates of the SC-CO2, a proxy for a price on carbon emissions that is used by governments, businesses, and financial bodies. This will enable Australia to play a leading and proactive role in the international pursuit of significant and sustained reductions in greenhouse gas emissions.Read moreRead less