Control and Optimization of Distributed Multiagent Formations. The project aims to develop a conceptual framework and algorithms for handling multi-vehicle formation control. Formations of unmanned airborne vehicles are currently used by defence forces and swarms of micro-vehicles are beginning to find increasing use in defence and for civilian emergency response, largely for surveillance purposes. Vehicles must cooperate to achieve a global formation objective, while respecting constraints on s ....Control and Optimization of Distributed Multiagent Formations. The project aims to develop a conceptual framework and algorithms for handling multi-vehicle formation control. Formations of unmanned airborne vehicles are currently used by defence forces and swarms of micro-vehicles are beginning to find increasing use in defence and for civilian emergency response, largely for surveillance purposes. Vehicles must cooperate to achieve a global formation objective, while respecting constraints on sensors, energy, and general mechanical limitations. The project aims to resolve the challenges of deciding what a single vehicle should observe, what and to where it should communicate, and how it should move in relation to what it sees. The conceptual framework developed may also be relevant in guiding future defence acquisitions and civilian applications.Read moreRead less
New insights into fundamental carrier transport in type-II superlattices. Type-II superlattice (T2SL) based semiconductors have emerged as a rival to well-established HgCdTe-based IR detectors, promising comparable performance at significantly lower cost. T2SLs are complex nanostructures that exhibit multiple-carrier and highly-anisotropic electronic transport properties, which renders them exceedingly challenging to study experimentally. The lack of reliable experimental data has limited optimi ....New insights into fundamental carrier transport in type-II superlattices. Type-II superlattice (T2SL) based semiconductors have emerged as a rival to well-established HgCdTe-based IR detectors, promising comparable performance at significantly lower cost. T2SLs are complex nanostructures that exhibit multiple-carrier and highly-anisotropic electronic transport properties, which renders them exceedingly challenging to study experimentally. The lack of reliable experimental data has limited optimisation and modelling efforts, and thus hampered progress. This project aims to systematically study electronic transport in T2SLs, both experimentally and theoretically, by employing world-leading mobility spectrum techniques developed at UWA and state-of-the art T2SL structures from three world leaders in T2SLs.Read moreRead less
A stochastic geometric framework for Bayesian sensor array processing. This project develops a mathematical framework, and a new generation of techniques, for sensor array processing to address real-world problems with uncertainty in array parameters and number of signals. The outcomes will enhance the capability of sensors in many application areas including, radar, sonar, astronomy and wireless communications.
Band engineered heterostructures for next generation mercury cadmium telluride infrared photodetectors. The application of unique heterostructures in mercury cadmium telluride (HgCdTe) photodetectors is proposed to address at least four problems: increase of operating temperature, passivation, multiband operation, fill factor. This ambitious project will lead to a significant step forward the HgCdTe infrared photodetector physics and technology.
High speed, high sensitivity thermal imaging. This project aims to increase sensitivity-speed product of thermal imagers by the novel using porous materials. Increased sensitivity-speed products will improve thermal imager effectiveness in motion capture and high resolution remote sensing applications. To develop these porous materials, this project will study the interdependence of optical, mechanical, thermal and electrical properties at the micro- and nano-scale. It will create a narrowband r ....High speed, high sensitivity thermal imaging. This project aims to increase sensitivity-speed product of thermal imagers by the novel using porous materials. Increased sensitivity-speed products will improve thermal imager effectiveness in motion capture and high resolution remote sensing applications. To develop these porous materials, this project will study the interdependence of optical, mechanical, thermal and electrical properties at the micro- and nano-scale. It will create a narrowband resonant cavity detector which increases sensitivity and provides spectral filtering for remote sensing and gas detection. This technology is built on a low-cost scalable all-silicon platform. This technology could benefit road safety, border security, defence, aerospace, remote sensing and industrial monitoring.Read moreRead less
Silicon-germanium-carbon - a novel opto-mechanic material for optical micro-electromechanical systems. Evolving from past black-and-white images, through present red-green-blue multi-spectral capability, future remote imaging systems promise spectroscopic functionality across much broader wavelength ranges in a low-cost system. However, the high cost of multiple materials and technologies for each specific spectral band limits them to high-cost industry sectors. This project proposes a simple, l ....Silicon-germanium-carbon - a novel opto-mechanic material for optical micro-electromechanical systems. Evolving from past black-and-white images, through present red-green-blue multi-spectral capability, future remote imaging systems promise spectroscopic functionality across much broader wavelength ranges in a low-cost system. However, the high cost of multiple materials and technologies for each specific spectral band limits them to high-cost industry sectors. This project proposes a simple, low-cost, single material technology based on silicon-germanium-carbon thin films for mechanical and optical applications from ultraviolet to long-wave infrared, enabling widespread application of spectroscopic imaging to multiple fields extending from climate change research, through resource exploration, to cancer detection, and aerospace/defense.Read moreRead less
Linkage Infrastructure, Equipment And Facilities - Grant ID: LE210100125
Funder
Australian Research Council
Funding Amount
$837,000.00
Summary
National Facility for Infrared Technologies. This project aims to establish a national facility for infrared (IR) technologies. The facility will include advanced imaging and spectroscopy facilities as well as unique tools for wafer-scale mapping of IR materials and devices. Combined, the facility will enable new diagnostic capabilities of supersonic combustion processes, aid establishment of wavelength agile integrated photonic chips and provide non-destructive quantitative electro-optical char ....National Facility for Infrared Technologies. This project aims to establish a national facility for infrared (IR) technologies. The facility will include advanced imaging and spectroscopy facilities as well as unique tools for wafer-scale mapping of IR materials and devices. Combined, the facility will enable new diagnostic capabilities of supersonic combustion processes, aid establishment of wavelength agile integrated photonic chips and provide non-destructive quantitative electro-optical characterisation of IR materials and devices. Establishment of these state-of-the-art capabilities across Australia will have clear benefits in fundamental sciences such as astronomy and quantum information as well as key industry branches in defence, aerospace, communications and security.Read moreRead less
Tunable metamaterials for terahertz and infrared applications. This project proposes novel low-cost miniature devices for spectroscopic, spatial, and temporal manipulation of infrared and terahertz waves, which are important for security and short range communication applications. By enabling the modulation of infrared and terahertz signals, the intended outcome is a platform for imaging applications, detection of chemical composition of objects, and future high-bandwidth communications. Using m ....Tunable metamaterials for terahertz and infrared applications. This project proposes novel low-cost miniature devices for spectroscopic, spatial, and temporal manipulation of infrared and terahertz waves, which are important for security and short range communication applications. By enabling the modulation of infrared and terahertz signals, the intended outcome is a platform for imaging applications, detection of chemical composition of objects, and future high-bandwidth communications. Using microfabrication techniques, the project plans to create metamaterials integrated with micro-electro-mechanical systems, which dynamically vary their electromagnetic properties. This technology would enable the creation of new devices that can controllably absorb, reflect or transmit infrared and terahertz signals.Read moreRead less
Adaptive multispectral imaging system for remote sensing applications. The many applications of remote sensing include environmental/crop monitoring, oil/mineral exploration, and aerospace/defence. However, remote sensing stands to benefit greatly from infrared spectral imaging devices. This project will develop the technology for an infrared spectral imaging system, suitable for numerous remote sensing applications.