Understanding how the brain uses sensory information to guide reaching and grasping movements. Reaching, grasping and manipulating objects are crucial aspects of our daily lives, which are performed so effortlessly that they tend to be taken for granted. We know however that these functions take a relatively long time to mature (think of a baby learning how to get an object), and that they can be impaired by brain lesions involving a region called the posterior parietal cortex. We also know that ....Understanding how the brain uses sensory information to guide reaching and grasping movements. Reaching, grasping and manipulating objects are crucial aspects of our daily lives, which are performed so effortlessly that they tend to be taken for granted. We know however that these functions take a relatively long time to mature (think of a baby learning how to get an object), and that they can be impaired by brain lesions involving a region called the posterior parietal cortex. We also know that this region has multiple subdivisions, but how exactly these interact in allowing the sensory information to guide arm and hand muscles is unknown. Discovering how this happens in terms of cellular interaction can have profound implications for the creation of new technologies such as artificial limbs and autonomous robots, and result in health benefits.Read moreRead less
Robust Control Design using Micro-Actuators. Recent advances in micro-actuators have enabled many new applications in complex systems. Examples include ultra-high density disk drives, low-cost vibration tables, and micro-robotic systems. However, control design for these systems is very challenging because the micro-actuators have severely limited dynamic ranges and strong couplings. The proposed project aims to study new control design approaches for these complex systems. The work will focus o ....Robust Control Design using Micro-Actuators. Recent advances in micro-actuators have enabled many new applications in complex systems. Examples include ultra-high density disk drives, low-cost vibration tables, and micro-robotic systems. However, control design for these systems is very challenging because the micro-actuators have severely limited dynamic ranges and strong couplings. The proposed project aims to study new control design approaches for these complex systems. The work will focus on both theoretical studies and experimental applications of such systems. The outcome of the project will help put Australia in a more advanced position in this niche area of leading age technology.Read moreRead less
Comparison of Techniques for the Removal of Ocular Artefact from the Electroencephalogram: A Validation Study. Although employed extensively for both research and clinical purposes, the utility of the electroencephalograph (EEG) is hampered by the contaminating effects of eye movements on these 'brain waves'. If it can be validated, the recent Australian development of a solution to this problem will mean that the EEG can be measured more quickly and accurately. This purpose of this research is ....Comparison of Techniques for the Removal of Ocular Artefact from the Electroencephalogram: A Validation Study. Although employed extensively for both research and clinical purposes, the utility of the electroencephalograph (EEG) is hampered by the contaminating effects of eye movements on these 'brain waves'. If it can be validated, the recent Australian development of a solution to this problem will mean that the EEG can be measured more quickly and accurately. This purpose of this research is to perform this validation, and its success would mean both more efficient EEG recording for the country, as well as an enhanced scientific reputation.Read moreRead less
Linkage Infrastructure, Equipment And Facilities - Grant ID: LE0775747
Funder
Australian Research Council
Funding Amount
$160,000.00
Summary
Distributed Medical Image Analysis and Visualisation Engine (MedVis). Improved understanding of neurological processes is crucial to improving clinical outcomes for patients. MedVis will contribute in three ways: support development of new methods of interpretation and analysis of complex neurological studies, allowing current methods to be applied more efficiently, and enabling distributed simulations and visualisations in real-time from remote sites.
The leading-edge, grid-based, software and ....Distributed Medical Image Analysis and Visualisation Engine (MedVis). Improved understanding of neurological processes is crucial to improving clinical outcomes for patients. MedVis will contribute in three ways: support development of new methods of interpretation and analysis of complex neurological studies, allowing current methods to be applied more efficiently, and enabling distributed simulations and visualisations in real-time from remote sites.
The leading-edge, grid-based, software and computational techniques developed for the project will enable visualization, analysis and modelling of massive volumes of image and other visualisation data. This capability is important in medical research where large visualisation data volumes are being created and studied by experts remote from each other.
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Holographic Videography for Spatial Communication. This project is aimed at developing a true colour holographic video display in which a user or users may interact with completely synthetic objects.
This will be the first system of its kind, giving a user the illusion of real physical interaction with a completely holographic object. The illusion may be shared by many participants without the use of external aids. The project has the potential to improve productivity in many applications suc ....Holographic Videography for Spatial Communication. This project is aimed at developing a true colour holographic video display in which a user or users may interact with completely synthetic objects.
This will be the first system of its kind, giving a user the illusion of real physical interaction with a completely holographic object. The illusion may be shared by many participants without the use of external aids. The project has the potential to improve productivity in many applications such as geospatial information systems, x-ray inspection, and medical imaging, by giving a user a much more natural way of interacting with three dimensional data.Read moreRead less
A Laser Guide Star using a High Power, Synchronously Pumped Optical Parametric Oscillators. We will develop a novel high power source of 589nm coherent (laser) light to be used to create a laser guide star by exciting sodium atoms in the earth's upper atmosphere (the mesosphere). This is needed to determine the distortion caused by the atmosphere on an optical beam propagating through it and generate the information needed to correct those distortions using an adaptive optics telescope. This pr ....A Laser Guide Star using a High Power, Synchronously Pumped Optical Parametric Oscillators. We will develop a novel high power source of 589nm coherent (laser) light to be used to create a laser guide star by exciting sodium atoms in the earth's upper atmosphere (the mesosphere). This is needed to determine the distortion caused by the atmosphere on an optical beam propagating through it and generate the information needed to correct those distortions using an adaptive optics telescope. This project focuses on the development of a novel high power 589nm source based on a synchronously pumped optical parametric oscillator.Read moreRead less
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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Microfibre photonics: function densification on a wavelength scale. The project will contribute to Australia's nanoscale device research and nanomanufacturing development. The project will create microfibre fabrication technologies for the creation of new optical systems of miniature proportions that will be used for cell illumination, for the creation of sensors for detection in small environments and as light tools for fundamental experiments in physics. Specialist fabrication methods will be ....Microfibre photonics: function densification on a wavelength scale. The project will contribute to Australia's nanoscale device research and nanomanufacturing development. The project will create microfibre fabrication technologies for the creation of new optical systems of miniature proportions that will be used for cell illumination, for the creation of sensors for detection in small environments and as light tools for fundamental experiments in physics. Specialist fabrication methods will be developed that will add to the nation's skill base. The outcomes of the project will enhance Australia's knowledge capacity, research capability and will contribute significantly to each of the National Research Priorities.Read moreRead less
Special Research Initiatives - Grant ID: SR0567334
Funder
Australian Research Council
Funding Amount
$125,748.00
Summary
A Grid-Enabled National Archive of Nanostructural Imagery (GRANI). The Nanostructural Analysis Network Organization (NANO) is an Australian Major National Research Facility that provides access to a grid of advanced microscopic instruments for the nanostructural analysis of both physical materials and biological systems. The aim of this initiative is to provide the NANO community with a set of common, interoperable tools and services to enable more efficient, cost-effective storage, management, ....A Grid-Enabled National Archive of Nanostructural Imagery (GRANI). The Nanostructural Analysis Network Organization (NANO) is an Australian Major National Research Facility that provides access to a grid of advanced microscopic instruments for the nanostructural analysis of both physical materials and biological systems. The aim of this initiative is to provide the NANO community with a set of common, interoperable tools and services to enable more efficient, cost-effective storage, management, analysis and sharing of generated microscopic images, video and analytical data. The significance of the proposed middleware is that it will improve collaboration and reduce duplication across many disciplines, through a shareable, distributed national scientific image/video database.Read moreRead less
Novel coherence-free photonic microwave signal processors. With the increasing bandwidth requirements of information signals, there is an unprecedented challenge to provide high-speed and high resolution systems for signal processing. The new photonic signal processors in this project will herald in a new epoch in the ability to optimally condition wideband signals, with important applications for science, business and security services. These processors will have particular impact in transcendi ....Novel coherence-free photonic microwave signal processors. With the increasing bandwidth requirements of information signals, there is an unprecedented challenge to provide high-speed and high resolution systems for signal processing. The new photonic signal processors in this project will herald in a new epoch in the ability to optimally condition wideband signals, with important applications for science, business and security services. These processors will have particular impact in transcending exisiting electronic processor limitations and in enhancing fibre-fed distributed antenna systems, with benefits to Australia in the fields of radioastronomy and radar systems in defence.Read moreRead less