A mathematical model relating neural activity to cerebral blood flow. An ageing population is increasingly prone to neurodegenerative disease and the associated mental impairment can severely disrupt the lives of both the sufferers and the carers. Non-invasive brain imaging techniques are used to both diagnose and supervise treatment of such disease, but at present a lack of understanding of the underlying physiology leaves these methods open to criticism. The construction of a detailed quanti ....A mathematical model relating neural activity to cerebral blood flow. An ageing population is increasingly prone to neurodegenerative disease and the associated mental impairment can severely disrupt the lives of both the sufferers and the carers. Non-invasive brain imaging techniques are used to both diagnose and supervise treatment of such disease, but at present a lack of understanding of the underlying physiology leaves these methods open to criticism. The construction of a detailed quantitative model of the basic processes underlying this imaging will enable precise interpretation of such brain scans and increase their usefulness both as a research and as a therapeutic tool.Read moreRead less
Creating subject-specific mathematical models to understand the brain. This project aims to develop a mathematical framework that bridges the different scales of brain activities to provide a new tool for understanding the brain. Methods will be developed that unify individual neural activity with large scale brain activity. The approach will be validated by comparing predictions of interconnected models of neural populations (called mean-field models) to experimental data. The creation of subje ....Creating subject-specific mathematical models to understand the brain. This project aims to develop a mathematical framework that bridges the different scales of brain activities to provide a new tool for understanding the brain. Methods will be developed that unify individual neural activity with large scale brain activity. The approach will be validated by comparing predictions of interconnected models of neural populations (called mean-field models) to experimental data. The creation of subject-specific models from data is important, as there is large variability in neural circuits between individuals despite seemingly similar network activity. The intended outcome is new insights into the processes that govern brain function and methods for improving functional imaging of, and interfacing to, the brain.Read moreRead less
Designing an Intelligent Process Operation Management System. The complexity and sophistication of current generation of industrial processes, and the growing need for autonomous agents that control physical systems, motivate the need for the development of an intelligent process operation management system. In this project, the innovative integration of theories from different scientific fields (computer systems, process engineering, systems and control engineering) provides an excellent platfo ....Designing an Intelligent Process Operation Management System. The complexity and sophistication of current generation of industrial processes, and the growing need for autonomous agents that control physical systems, motivate the need for the development of an intelligent process operation management system. In this project, the innovative integration of theories from different scientific fields (computer systems, process engineering, systems and control engineering) provides an excellent platform for development of a smart data management tool, to oversee the major operational tasks within the plant and help the operators and engineers to make more informed decisions. Direct application of the techniques developed in this study to a pilot case study, could be used as a benchmark to show the potential benefits that can be gained through smart information use and data management.Read moreRead less
Emergence of modular structure in complex systems. Complex systems pervade our world, but are still poorly understood. Self-contained modules provide the most widespread and effective way of reducing and managing complexity, but the way they form in natural systems remains largely a mystery. This study investigates mechanisms that contribute to module formation in complex networks, including adaptation, clustering, enslavement, feedback, phase change and synchronisation. Outcomes will include in ....Emergence of modular structure in complex systems. Complex systems pervade our world, but are still poorly understood. Self-contained modules provide the most widespread and effective way of reducing and managing complexity, but the way they form in natural systems remains largely a mystery. This study investigates mechanisms that contribute to module formation in complex networks, including adaptation, clustering, enslavement, feedback, phase change and synchronisation. Outcomes will include insights into the organisation and functioning of many complex systems, including the Internet, ecological communities and genetic networks. Practical outcomes will include new modelling tools and applications both to evolutionary computation and the design and control of large information networks.Read moreRead less
Modelling, Identification and Control of Complex Networks. Australia has been well known for its leading research in systems and control and many real-world applications in, for instance, telecommunications, defence, power grids and life sciences. This project will further promote Australia's leading position in the emerging new research field - complex networks by theoretical breakthrough in modelling, identification and control of complex networks, and cutting-edge platform technology that can ....Modelling, Identification and Control of Complex Networks. Australia has been well known for its leading research in systems and control and many real-world applications in, for instance, telecommunications, defence, power grids and life sciences. This project will further promote Australia's leading position in the emerging new research field - complex networks by theoretical breakthrough in modelling, identification and control of complex networks, and cutting-edge platform technology that can help Australian energy industry to reduce greenhouse emissions. It will also result in education of the next generation research leaders in this emerging field.Read moreRead less
Mathematical modelling in developmental biology. Modern observational techniques in biology and medicine generate a wealth of genetic and molecular detail. Mathematical modelling integrates and synthesises this information to provide insight into how complex biological processes are coupled to produce experimentally observed behaviour. Mathematical modelling generates experimentally testable predictions that can be used to verify the validity of the models. This program is dedicated to exciting ....Mathematical modelling in developmental biology. Modern observational techniques in biology and medicine generate a wealth of genetic and molecular detail. Mathematical modelling integrates and synthesises this information to provide insight into how complex biological processes are coupled to produce experimentally observed behaviour. Mathematical modelling generates experimentally testable predictions that can be used to verify the validity of the models. This program is dedicated to exciting opportunities for advancing our knowledge of normal and abnormal developmental processes, especially in embryonic growth. Understanding these processes will lead to prediction and treatment of congenital disorders and contribute to a healthy start to life. Read moreRead less
Dynamic Analysis and Control for Hybrid Systems and Networks. Hybrid systems are now accepted as the best way to model many high-tech situations in transport, energy management, networking, household and industrial automation. This project will develop the theoretical tools needed to ensure such systems operate stably and efficiently despite imperfections and outside disturbances.
Coordination control of underactuated ocean vehicles for ocean forecasting. Australia is surrounded by oceans. Ocean forecasting is essential for effective and efficient operations on and within the ocean for a number of applications such as coastal zone management, military operations and scientific research. The successful completion of this project promises to put Australia in a leading position in this area. Due to the multi-disciplinary nature of this project, the project development will a ....Coordination control of underactuated ocean vehicles for ocean forecasting. Australia is surrounded by oceans. Ocean forecasting is essential for effective and efficient operations on and within the ocean for a number of applications such as coastal zone management, military operations and scientific research. The successful completion of this project promises to put Australia in a leading position in this area. Due to the multi-disciplinary nature of this project, the project development will also stimulate the development in many other areas such as new ocean vehicles, sensors and actuators, electronics and control.Read moreRead less
Fault tolerant multisensor feedback control. This project will advance knowledge by deepening the theoretical understanding of the interplay between multisensory data and feedback control mechanisms. It will also expand the tool sets of control engineering with innovative multisensory control designs. We see major benefits for Australia arising from this project both by enhancing its scientific reputation and by promoting technological advances in its industries and services. The project has pot ....Fault tolerant multisensor feedback control. This project will advance knowledge by deepening the theoretical understanding of the interplay between multisensory data and feedback control mechanisms. It will also expand the tool sets of control engineering with innovative multisensory control designs. We see major benefits for Australia arising from this project both by enhancing its scientific reputation and by promoting technological advances in its industries and services. The project has potential to contribute to the National Research Priority area: Frontier Technologies for Building and Transforming Australian Industries, since it has direct impact on the relevant areas of biotechnology, information, communication technology, nanotechnology and sensor technology.Read moreRead less
DEVELOPMENT OF NEW NONLINEAR CONTROLLERS FOR TRAJECTORY TRACKING AND PATH-FOLLOWING OF UNDERACTUATED OCEAN VEHICLES. Trajectory tracking control and path-following of underactuated ocean vehicles are not only of theoretical challenging but also important practice. This project is firstly to develop methodologies to design full-state feedback controllers to force the underactuated ocean vehicles including surface ships and underwater vehicles with off-diagonal terms in their system matrices to tr ....DEVELOPMENT OF NEW NONLINEAR CONTROLLERS FOR TRAJECTORY TRACKING AND PATH-FOLLOWING OF UNDERACTUATED OCEAN VEHICLES. Trajectory tracking control and path-following of underactuated ocean vehicles are not only of theoretical challenging but also important practice. This project is firstly to develop methodologies to design full-state feedback controllers to force the underactuated ocean vehicles including surface ships and underwater vehicles with off-diagonal terms in their system matrices to track reference trajectories generated by virtual vehicles, and to follow a predefined path with a desired forward speed. Secondly, we develop methods to design observers to estimate the unmeasured states (velocities) of the vehicles and incorporate with the full-state feedback controllers to have output-feedback observer-based controllers. Lastly, the proposed control design methods are extended to a certain class of underactuated mechanical systems.Read moreRead less