A 60% efficient solar microconcentrator for electricity and hot water. The aim of this project is to develop a microconcentrator for deployment on house roofs that will produce both solar hot water and solar electricity with a combined efficiency above 60%. The system will have a low profile and will be nearly invisible from the street. The system will track the sun. Concentration will be accomplished by a mixture of refraction and reflection. About 20% of the sunlight will be converted to elect ....A 60% efficient solar microconcentrator for electricity and hot water. The aim of this project is to develop a microconcentrator for deployment on house roofs that will produce both solar hot water and solar electricity with a combined efficiency above 60%. The system will have a low profile and will be nearly invisible from the street. The system will track the sun. Concentration will be accomplished by a mixture of refraction and reflection. About 20% of the sunlight will be converted to electricity using lines of tiny solar cells, with the balance being converted to heat which is removed by cooling fluid and stored in hot water tanks.Read moreRead less
Self-Powered Wireless Sensor Networks, Enabling an Intelligent Agricultural Environment. Most animal production enterprises could be considerably more productive if the physiological status of each animal were to be continuously monitored, and the appropriate adjustments were made in real time. The proposed project will develop technologies that will enable continuous, real-time monitoring resulting in more efficient use of Australia's resources. Furthermore, research on wireless sensor network ....Self-Powered Wireless Sensor Networks, Enabling an Intelligent Agricultural Environment. Most animal production enterprises could be considerably more productive if the physiological status of each animal were to be continuously monitored, and the appropriate adjustments were made in real time. The proposed project will develop technologies that will enable continuous, real-time monitoring resulting in more efficient use of Australia's resources. Furthermore, research on wireless sensor networks, or ambient intelligence as it is sometimes called, is at the forefront of wireless communications and indeed ICT technology. This project will benefit Australia's ICT community both by training new professional and research leaders in this area, and by developing technologies that will further enable this rapidly growing field.Read moreRead less