Integration of Wireless LAN and GPRS/UMTS Cellular Systems. Integration of wireless local area networks with cellular mobile systems provides a feasible, reliable, and cost-effective way for high-speed mobile Internet access in wide area networks. In this project in collaboration with Australia's second largest telecommunications company; Optus, we will develop network architecture and essential access and mobility techniques for such a system. The project's outcomes will enable Optus to expand ....Integration of Wireless LAN and GPRS/UMTS Cellular Systems. Integration of wireless local area networks with cellular mobile systems provides a feasible, reliable, and cost-effective way for high-speed mobile Internet access in wide area networks. In this project in collaboration with Australia's second largest telecommunications company; Optus, we will develop network architecture and essential access and mobility techniques for such a system. The project's outcomes will enable Optus to expand its broadband mobile Internet service to all parts and population of the country including rural and regional areas and subsequently export the breakthrough technology resulted from the project to overseas.Read moreRead less
Cooperative Mesh Networks for Municipal Wireless Access. Robust mobile broadband data communication is vital for public safety and emergency services applications. This project will improve the performance and cost-effectiveness of mesh networks, enabling new network architectures. Immediate benefits to Australia will be: Contribution to a growing knowledge base and fundamental capabilities wireless broadband communications; Education of future leading academic and industrial innovators; Raising ....Cooperative Mesh Networks for Municipal Wireless Access. Robust mobile broadband data communication is vital for public safety and emergency services applications. This project will improve the performance and cost-effectiveness of mesh networks, enabling new network architectures. Immediate benefits to Australia will be: Contribution to a growing knowledge base and fundamental capabilities wireless broadband communications; Education of future leading academic and industrial innovators; Raising the international profile of Australian research in information technology. The contribution of Information and Communications Technology to the National economy is widely recognized. ICT contributes to wealth creation, employment and exports, underpinning many innovation processes.Read moreRead less
Enhancing Australian Universities' Research Commercialisation Performance. The primary aims of the project are to develop a detailed understanding of the systematic barriers to research commercialisation within Australian universities and to promote innovation within the commercialisation through the adoption of effective processes. The project will also explore the needs of the smaller and regional universities to develop effective strategies that will enhance their research commercialisation c ....Enhancing Australian Universities' Research Commercialisation Performance. The primary aims of the project are to develop a detailed understanding of the systematic barriers to research commercialisation within Australian universities and to promote innovation within the commercialisation through the adoption of effective processes. The project will also explore the needs of the smaller and regional universities to develop effective strategies that will enhance their research commercialisation capacity and performance through the promotion of industry uptake of their research outcomes.Read moreRead less
Improving road safety: advanced hybrid vehicle-based technology for monitoring driver drowsiness. Innovative technology geared towards reducing road accidents and fatalities (for improving public health) will constitute major socio-economic benefit to Australia. The Australian Transport Safety Bureau notes fatigue as a major cause of road accidents (2006). The World Health Organisation dedicated World Health Day 2004 to road safety and emphasized the importance of combating fatigue ('Road Safety ....Improving road safety: advanced hybrid vehicle-based technology for monitoring driver drowsiness. Innovative technology geared towards reducing road accidents and fatalities (for improving public health) will constitute major socio-economic benefit to Australia. The Australian Transport Safety Bureau notes fatigue as a major cause of road accidents (2006). The World Health Organisation dedicated World Health Day 2004 to road safety and emphasized the importance of combating fatigue ('Road Safety is no Accident'). This research will develop an innovative driver drowsiness detecting technology. With drowsiness attributable to substantial road fatalities, this technology aims to reduce this emotional and socio-economic burden on the community, contributing to national and community benefit by providing a safer road environment.Read moreRead less
Smart Antennas for Broadband Wireless Data Systems. Smart antennas can facilitate accommodation of an increasing demand for bandwidth and quality in wireless communications by directing the antenna beam towards the desired user, while suppressing signals coming from interferers. The beam forming processor can adapt to changes in channel propagation conditions as well as movements of the user or interferers. Many algorithms for controlling smart antennas have been proposed, and usually there is a ....Smart Antennas for Broadband Wireless Data Systems. Smart antennas can facilitate accommodation of an increasing demand for bandwidth and quality in wireless communications by directing the antenna beam towards the desired user, while suppressing signals coming from interferers. The beam forming processor can adapt to changes in channel propagation conditions as well as movements of the user or interferers. Many algorithms for controlling smart antennas have been proposed, and usually there is a trade-off between complexity and performance. We aim to find a suitable compromise to implement smart antennas for broadband wireless access systems and to apply smart antenna technology to increase the range of ultra-wideband communications.Read moreRead less
A cross-national comparison of novel market-pull technology transfer programs which facilitate research organisation commercialisation through dynamic SMEs. This research will contribute to a more competitive and innovative economy in two ways. First it will provide a basis for improved public policy to stimulate technology uptake by small business, which is critical for small business growth and innovation. Second, it will identify innovative policies to facilitate the uptake of university rese ....A cross-national comparison of novel market-pull technology transfer programs which facilitate research organisation commercialisation through dynamic SMEs. This research will contribute to a more competitive and innovative economy in two ways. First it will provide a basis for improved public policy to stimulate technology uptake by small business, which is critical for small business growth and innovation. Second, it will identify innovative policies to facilitate the uptake of university research, to enhance the contribution of universities to the economy. The proposed research is original because it focuses on the way in which the technology needs of small firms can be met by existing university knowledge and technologies. Prior research on technology transfer focuses on pushing university research out to industry through university spin-offs or university and large firm linkages.Read moreRead less
Elastic and biodegradable sponges/aerogels from exfoliated silk nanofibres . The aim of this project is to investigate methods to produce highly porous elastic sponges from silk protein nanofibres. These sponges will have optimal mechanical, insulation and degradation properties making them suitable for a wide range of applications including the biomedical and personal care sectors, where current products have significant drawbacks due to the use of non-biodegradable synthetic materials. Outco ....Elastic and biodegradable sponges/aerogels from exfoliated silk nanofibres . The aim of this project is to investigate methods to produce highly porous elastic sponges from silk protein nanofibres. These sponges will have optimal mechanical, insulation and degradation properties making them suitable for a wide range of applications including the biomedical and personal care sectors, where current products have significant drawbacks due to the use of non-biodegradable synthetic materials. Outcomes include new knowledge on controlling porous structures and tailoring properties to targeted applications. This project, by laying the groundwork for a new generation of bio-based materials, will benefit the Australian advanced manufacturing sector, and enhance Australia's standing in materials science and engineering.Read moreRead less
Adaptive Modulation For OFDM Signals. The sub band Signal To Noise Ratio in an OFDM communications channel varies by as much as 30 dB. In order to optimise the bandwidth efficiency of OFDM signalling it is desirable to adapt the chosen modulation technique such as M-ary QAM to the SNR available in sub bands. In this way high quality channels transmit the highest bit rates, whilst low quality channels accommodate the lowest bit rates. The net result is that the capacity of the communications link ....Adaptive Modulation For OFDM Signals. The sub band Signal To Noise Ratio in an OFDM communications channel varies by as much as 30 dB. In order to optimise the bandwidth efficiency of OFDM signalling it is desirable to adapt the chosen modulation technique such as M-ary QAM to the SNR available in sub bands. In this way high quality channels transmit the highest bit rates, whilst low quality channels accommodate the lowest bit rates. The net result is that the capacity of the communications link does not have to be limited by designing for worst case conditions.Read moreRead less
Optimal Waveform Design and Compensation Techniques for Non Linear Communication Channels. Distortion effects in satellite amplifiers have a serious impact upon communication system performance, for example, by increasing the error rates.
The research study we are proposing involves analysing these distortion causing non linear effects and designing techniques to compensate for them. Although we are initially interested in the nonlinear satellite channel, we intend the results to be extended t ....Optimal Waveform Design and Compensation Techniques for Non Linear Communication Channels. Distortion effects in satellite amplifiers have a serious impact upon communication system performance, for example, by increasing the error rates.
The research study we are proposing involves analysing these distortion causing non linear effects and designing techniques to compensate for them. Although we are initially interested in the nonlinear satellite channel, we intend the results to be extended to other difficult nonlinear channels such as will be present in future 3G and 4G mobile communication systems.
The proposed research will place Australia at the forefront of cutting edge Information Technology and Communications research.
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Engineering improved technology for nanoparticle-based adjuvant manufacture. Over the next decade nanotechnology will redefine vaccines for animal and human health. Nanoparticle adjuvants will boost engineered vaccines that use minimal antigens such as recombinant proteins and synthetic peptides. This project aims to develop a platform technology for making and controlling the properties of inulin nanoparticles by optimising the engineering and manufacturing aspects of inulin nanoparticles to fu ....Engineering improved technology for nanoparticle-based adjuvant manufacture. Over the next decade nanotechnology will redefine vaccines for animal and human health. Nanoparticle adjuvants will boost engineered vaccines that use minimal antigens such as recombinant proteins and synthetic peptides. This project aims to develop a platform technology for making and controlling the properties of inulin nanoparticles by optimising the engineering and manufacturing aspects of inulin nanoparticles to fundamentally understand the relationship between physical-chemical properties and efficacy. Completion of this project aims to produce potent nanoparticle-based adjuvants underpinned by novel manufacturing technology, to ultimately facilitate the development of more effective and protective vaccines for animals and humans.Read moreRead less