Co-design and dynamic mission optimisation of hypersonic flight vehicles. This project aims to deliver fundamental knowledge by integrating the modelling and control with the design of next generation hypersonic platforms. In an era where Australia's national security reliance on geographic isolation and support from allied forces are being challenged, the research outcomes of this project will play an important role in understanding the capabilities of hypersonic systems. The project will also ....Co-design and dynamic mission optimisation of hypersonic flight vehicles. This project aims to deliver fundamental knowledge by integrating the modelling and control with the design of next generation hypersonic platforms. In an era where Australia's national security reliance on geographic isolation and support from allied forces are being challenged, the research outcomes of this project will play an important role in understanding the capabilities of hypersonic systems. The project will also have significant spillover benefits into other complex system domains, where computational tools can be used to aid in design leading to high embedded-IP products for Australian industry. Furthermore, the proposal encompasses a strong research training aspect, with graduates exposed to leading edge industry and academia.Read moreRead less
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
What learning is there in learning control? This project seeks to establish a meaningful definition and quantifiable measure of learning in the context of adaptive or learning control. The project is designed within the context of human motor skill learning, and assesses the speed of learning and the quality of learning (reflected by the accuracy of the motor task execution). The project plans to use measures to provide a mathematically precise meaning for the notion of learning. The outcome has ....What learning is there in learning control? This project seeks to establish a meaningful definition and quantifiable measure of learning in the context of adaptive or learning control. The project is designed within the context of human motor skill learning, and assesses the speed of learning and the quality of learning (reflected by the accuracy of the motor task execution). The project plans to use measures to provide a mathematically precise meaning for the notion of learning. The outcome has the potential to be applied to the design of technology-assisted training of motor skills, from the recovery of lost motor skills after trauma to the development of elite athletes.Read moreRead less
Automated vision-based aircraft collision warning technologies. Australia is a sparsely populated country with a number of unique airspace features. This project will investigate novel vision-based collision warning systems that can improve safety for piloted aircraft and also help achieve integration of UASs (Uninhabited Aerial Systems) into national airspace. The benefits of UAS technologies are particularly relevant to Australia, as governments and industry struggle to cope with providing equ ....Automated vision-based aircraft collision warning technologies. Australia is a sparsely populated country with a number of unique airspace features. This project will investigate novel vision-based collision warning systems that can improve safety for piloted aircraft and also help achieve integration of UASs (Uninhabited Aerial Systems) into national airspace. The benefits of UAS technologies are particularly relevant to Australia, as governments and industry struggle to cope with providing equivalent levels of service to remote communities over vast distances (or border protection of vast regions). The population base of Australia requires that cost-effective solutions are sought to meet this end. Read moreRead less
New System Identification Techniques Utilising Misspecified Models. National benefits of the proposed research project will result from improvements in control due to a better, more complete understanding of the models obtained by the newly proposed system identification technique. The resulting effect on industrial practice will be an increase in efficiency, by reduced waste, lower pollution levels and increased throughput. Also, the techniques developed will be directly applicable to current r ....New System Identification Techniques Utilising Misspecified Models. National benefits of the proposed research project will result from improvements in control due to a better, more complete understanding of the models obtained by the newly proposed system identification technique. The resulting effect on industrial practice will be an increase in efficiency, by reduced waste, lower pollution levels and increased throughput. Also, the techniques developed will be directly applicable to current research in the areas of complex systems, such as smart structures and biological studies of the dynamic effects of drugs and hormones on genes.Read moreRead less
Robust Experiment Design for Dynamical System Identification. Innovative and new robust experiment design methodologies are a Frontier Technology for Transforming Australian Industries. By providing a solid foundation for generating high fidelity models, robust experiment design will, by the use of breakthrough science, facilitate the estimation of models in minimum time. Also, this will entail minimal disruption to the normal operation of the process under study. With the majority of advanced ....Robust Experiment Design for Dynamical System Identification. Innovative and new robust experiment design methodologies are a Frontier Technology for Transforming Australian Industries. By providing a solid foundation for generating high fidelity models, robust experiment design will, by the use of breakthrough science, facilitate the estimation of models in minimum time. Also, this will entail minimal disruption to the normal operation of the process under study. With the majority of advanced industrial process control systems reliant on accurate models significant savings could also be made due to the implicit improvement in process control.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
Fork safely: improving safety of ordinary forklifts by automating task-specific operations. Forklift trucks are used for goods handling extensively in all sectors of industry. However, statistics show high figures of forklift accidents, with an average of 250 serious injuries per year in Victoria alone. This project will seek to address the operational safety of forklifts by automating the execution of typical forklift tasks.
Improving the operation of large-scale irrigation networks through automation. Channel networks for irrigation are critical infrastructure. Efficient operation is important in terms of sustainability and food security. This project aims to deliver automatic control techniques for improving system-wide performance. The research outcomes will secure Australia's place at the forefront of irrigation network automation technology.
Advanced coverage control techniques for mobile networked systems. This project aims to efficiently control individual mobile sensors and actuators to achieve network-wide coverage quality for monitoring and control of industrial and environmental processes. Coverage control of mobile networked systems is important in control engineering due to the growing use of mobile robots and mobile wireless networks for sensing coverage and monitoring. The project will develop techniques for coverage contr ....Advanced coverage control techniques for mobile networked systems. This project aims to efficiently control individual mobile sensors and actuators to achieve network-wide coverage quality for monitoring and control of industrial and environmental processes. Coverage control of mobile networked systems is important in control engineering due to the growing use of mobile robots and mobile wireless networks for sensing coverage and monitoring. The project will develop techniques for coverage control of mobile networks which are expected to solve industrial control problems in the defence, communications and robotics industries and manage the environment.Read moreRead less