Fluid-structural interactions in high-speed flows. This project aims to perform experiments to measure fluid-structure interaction in hypersonic flows. The work will improve the accuracy of simulation tools that are urgently required to aid industry in the design of more structurally efficient and robust high-speed vehicles. These tools will in turn be used to reveal the underlying physics of the fluid-structure interactions and establish the relative significance of the driving parameters. Accu ....Fluid-structural interactions in high-speed flows. This project aims to perform experiments to measure fluid-structure interaction in hypersonic flows. The work will improve the accuracy of simulation tools that are urgently required to aid industry in the design of more structurally efficient and robust high-speed vehicles. These tools will in turn be used to reveal the underlying physics of the fluid-structure interactions and establish the relative significance of the driving parameters. Accurate prediction of the behaviour and lifetime of structural components subject to these fluid-structural interactions, in which the deformation of the structure induced by the local flow field, can in turn influence this flow field. This coupling can result in damage or even catastrophic structural failure and thus robust design tools must be developed to avoid this.Read moreRead less
A new energy absorption system for brain injury mitigation. This research aims to propose and investigate a next generation high-energy absorbing helmet pad that will protect the Australian Defence Force soldiers against both ballistic and blast threats. New fundamental knowledge in the area of high-energy absorbing metamaterials will be obtained by using numerical modelling and experimental studies. The expected outcomes of the project include the development of a new wearable energy absorbing ....A new energy absorption system for brain injury mitigation. This research aims to propose and investigate a next generation high-energy absorbing helmet pad that will protect the Australian Defence Force soldiers against both ballistic and blast threats. New fundamental knowledge in the area of high-energy absorbing metamaterials will be obtained by using numerical modelling and experimental studies. The expected outcomes of the project include the development of a new wearable energy absorbing pad which can be used as the next generation combat helmet liners and accessories. The novel high-performance energy absorption system will have a wide range of direct applications in future personal armour, as well as sports gears and elderly healthcare products.Read moreRead less
Human-Unmanned Aerial Vehicle interactions: Making drones talk and listen. This project aims to develop audio technology to enable unmanned aerial vehicles or drones to hear, use speech and sound to communicate with humans, acoustically sense their surroundings and make them less noisy. This project expects to generate new knowledge in acoustic signal processing and its application in drones using innovative approaches, such as use of miniature microphone and loudspeaker arrays, and active noise ....Human-Unmanned Aerial Vehicle interactions: Making drones talk and listen. This project aims to develop audio technology to enable unmanned aerial vehicles or drones to hear, use speech and sound to communicate with humans, acoustically sense their surroundings and make them less noisy. This project expects to generate new knowledge in acoustic signal processing and its application in drones using innovative approaches, such as use of miniature microphone and loudspeaker arrays, and active noise control. Expected outcomes include development of new theories, Intellectual Property, with potential commercial value, and training of next generation researchers. This should provide significant benefits with applications in life saving, search and rescue operations, transportation of goods, and creation of 3D media.Read moreRead less
Intriguing aerodynamics of bees, hoverflies and beyond. Nature observers have long been fascinated by the elegance, agility and endurance of flying insects, but still human-engineered vehicles fail to match their performance. This project aims to reveal the key physical aspects that allow two different insects to fly so well and thus unlock greater performance for flapping flight vehicles beyond insects.
Nonlinear topological photonics . The rapidly growing demands of information processing have launched a race for compact optical devices transmitting signals without losses. Topological phases of light provides unique opportunities to create new photonic systems with functionalities and efficiencies well beyond current capabilities. This project aims to develop new ways to generate and guide light at the nanoscale by merging fundamental concepts of nonlinear photonics and topological physics. Th ....Nonlinear topological photonics . The rapidly growing demands of information processing have launched a race for compact optical devices transmitting signals without losses. Topological phases of light provides unique opportunities to create new photonic systems with functionalities and efficiencies well beyond current capabilities. This project aims to develop new ways to generate and guide light at the nanoscale by merging fundamental concepts of nonlinear photonics and topological physics. The outcomes of this project will result in experimental demonstration of the world-first, highly efficient, compact, and lossless nonlinear photonic devices for advanced optical technologies.Read moreRead less
Emerging technologies of warfare as a challenge to the law of armed conflict: cyber-attacks, robotics and nanotechnology. In order to reduce suffering in war, international law places limits on the ways in which the adversary can be harmed. This project will assess how the law fares in dealing with emerging technologies, such as hostile uses of computer networks, robotics and nanotechnology. It will provide guidance to policy makers on how the law can be improved.
Developing Australia's legal response to military and security applications of nanotechnology. A critical regulatory gap exists for military applications of nanotechnology under international law. This project will provide a conceptual framework and policy options to develop Australia's legal response to the use of nanotechnology in military and security settings through collaborations with experts in the United States.
Space for Australia on the periodic table: creating new superheavy elements. This project aims to apply innovative methods developed in Australia to determine the optimal nuclear fusion reactions to synthesise new superheavy elements. As part of a major international collaboration aiming to discover elements 119 and 120, the project leverages our new conceptual approach, unique detector instrumentation and Australia's Heavy Ion Accelerator Facility. Anticipated outcomes include the first direct ....Space for Australia on the periodic table: creating new superheavy elements. This project aims to apply innovative methods developed in Australia to determine the optimal nuclear fusion reactions to synthesise new superheavy elements. As part of a major international collaboration aiming to discover elements 119 and 120, the project leverages our new conceptual approach, unique detector instrumentation and Australia's Heavy Ion Accelerator Facility. Anticipated outcomes include the first direct Australian contribution to the discovery of new elements, improved understanding of nuclear fusion and fission at the limits of nuclear existence, tests of our new theoretical approach to energy dissipation in many-body quantum systems, strengthened international links, and top-level nuclear science and accelerator training.Read moreRead less
Meta-composites of high level thermal dimensional stability. This project aims to design and manufacture meta-composites of high level thermal dimensional stability for future space-based imagery applications. The project will develop the fundamentals of novel enabling technologies including: meta-composite material design, miniature fibre tow placement, optimal processing window and the high precision net-shape additive manufacturing of continuous fibre laminated composites without needs of fol ....Meta-composites of high level thermal dimensional stability. This project aims to design and manufacture meta-composites of high level thermal dimensional stability for future space-based imagery applications. The project will develop the fundamentals of novel enabling technologies including: meta-composite material design, miniature fibre tow placement, optimal processing window and the high precision net-shape additive manufacturing of continuous fibre laminated composites without needs of follow-up machining. This is expected to eliminate or minimise the current need to use a motorised adjustment system for space-based imagery applications. This project will develop the know-how for design and technology to manufacture meta-composites of high level thermal dimensional stability.Read moreRead less
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