Optical Fibre Touch Sensor for Cochlear Implants. The touch sensor will be part of a cochlear implant, which is surgically implanted to provide a sense of hearing for people who are profoundly or severely deaf. Approximately 100,000 people worldwide have received cochlear implants so far. However, the delicate internal structures of the ear can easily be damaged when the implant is inserted. By helping surgeons to preserve the inner ear, this sensor will help to further improve the hearing abili ....Optical Fibre Touch Sensor for Cochlear Implants. The touch sensor will be part of a cochlear implant, which is surgically implanted to provide a sense of hearing for people who are profoundly or severely deaf. Approximately 100,000 people worldwide have received cochlear implants so far. However, the delicate internal structures of the ear can easily be damaged when the implant is inserted. By helping surgeons to preserve the inner ear, this sensor will help to further improve the hearing ability of future patients. The 'bionic ear' was invented in Australia and this project will help to ensure the continued success of Australia's world leading implant industry.Read moreRead less
Brighter than a synchrotron mid-infrared sources for spectroscopy & sensing. This project intends to develop mid-infrared spectroscopy as a powerful diagnostic tool. Mid-infrared spectroscopy allows a light beam to determine the chemical composition of objects or gaseous samples. It has wide applicability — in fields such as medicine, agriculture, the environment, national security and industrial process control — but its use has been hampered by the lack of bright, low-cost sources and integrat ....Brighter than a synchrotron mid-infrared sources for spectroscopy & sensing. This project intends to develop mid-infrared spectroscopy as a powerful diagnostic tool. Mid-infrared spectroscopy allows a light beam to determine the chemical composition of objects or gaseous samples. It has wide applicability — in fields such as medicine, agriculture, the environment, national security and industrial process control — but its use has been hampered by the lack of bright, low-cost sources and integrated devices. This project aims to implement new Australian-made sources that exceed the brightness of even synchrotrons at modest prices. It also aims to demonstrate a single chip integrated version of such a source as the first step towards deployment of mid-infrared technology.Read moreRead less
Nanophotonic metamaterials as anti-counterfeit devices in Australian banknotes. This project will demonstrate the application of novel materials as the basis for next generation security features on banknotes. Such elements play a key role in maintaining the integrity of Australia's currency since they present a significant barrier to counterfeiting.
A versatile optical wavelength and mode switching device for future telecommunication networks. This project will develop a next generation switching device for future fibre optical communication networks that will divide their information among several modes of specialty fibre. This device will be a key component for allowing network operators to move to these novel mode-multiplexed networks in order to overcome the looming capacity crunch.
High-density mobile fronthaul optical interconnects using few-mode fibers. This project aims to develop a prototype of high-density optical interconnects for mobile fronthaul systems using few-mode transmission techniques. This is required to meet the high bandwidth demand from 5G mobile standard, which is to be rolled out worldwide in the near future. The project expects to advance knowledge of space-division-multiplexing techniques using cost-effective direct detection. The methodologies and t ....High-density mobile fronthaul optical interconnects using few-mode fibers. This project aims to develop a prototype of high-density optical interconnects for mobile fronthaul systems using few-mode transmission techniques. This is required to meet the high bandwidth demand from 5G mobile standard, which is to be rolled out worldwide in the near future. The project expects to advance knowledge of space-division-multiplexing techniques using cost-effective direct detection. The methodologies and technologies developed through this project will enhance the competitiveness of the Australian’s telecommunication sector, especially on the deployment of 5G services to the broader community. This technology will be critical to Australia’s digital economy, from supporting virtual reality to autonomous driving and will provide significant benefits to the Australian optical communication industry.
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High-performance and Cost-effective Fibre Optic Distributed Sensing System. This project aims to provide enabling technologies to manufacture high-performance and cost-effective fibre optic distributed sensing systems. Coherent optical time domain reflectometry based on Rayleigh scattering in optical fibre has been explored for distributed vibration, strain and temperature sensing. However, its susceptibility to laser phase noise, amplitude and polarisation fading hinders its widespread applicat ....High-performance and Cost-effective Fibre Optic Distributed Sensing System. This project aims to provide enabling technologies to manufacture high-performance and cost-effective fibre optic distributed sensing systems. Coherent optical time domain reflectometry based on Rayleigh scattering in optical fibre has been explored for distributed vibration, strain and temperature sensing. However, its susceptibility to laser phase noise, amplitude and polarisation fading hinders its widespread application. This project aims to apply the technologies developed in coherent optical communication to fibre optic distributed sensing. The research is planned to include design, simulation, and experimental verification of the proposed sensing system.Read moreRead less
Discovery of Novel Respiratory Viruses Causing Influenza-Like Illness in Healthy Australian Adults Aged 18 to 64 Years. This work will inform our understanding of the causes of acute respiratory illnesses in Australia at the present time by looking for both known and previously undiscovered respiratory viruses. Increasing the knowledge base regarding causes of disease will have downstream relevance for health policy planners seeking to assess the burden of disease due to different causes. Early ....Discovery of Novel Respiratory Viruses Causing Influenza-Like Illness in Healthy Australian Adults Aged 18 to 64 Years. This work will inform our understanding of the causes of acute respiratory illnesses in Australia at the present time by looking for both known and previously undiscovered respiratory viruses. Increasing the knowledge base regarding causes of disease will have downstream relevance for health policy planners seeking to assess the burden of disease due to different causes. Early identification and description of new diseases will allow pre-emptive evaluation of new public health threats. This information will help to ensure availability and marketability of vaccines to prevent infection.Read moreRead less
Rational lateral-bracing design for steel-framed domestic structures. For the 150,000 new Australian houses built annually to remain safe, despite expected increases in structural loading due to climate change, rational design approaches are desperately needed. This project will provide the industry with the necessary tools to develop optimised and innovative solutions to brace houses for extreme events and yet maintain affordability.
Silicon Photonic Platform for Quantum Encryption and Communications. The integrity of a secure communications link can mean the difference between life and death in a defence environment. In the civilian arena, the security of electronic financial transactions is also critical to guard against 'cyber' theft. Encryption of data using unique quantum 'noise' as a key has been proposed as an exceptionally strong approach. Attempts to intercept the key during transmission can easily be detected.
....Silicon Photonic Platform for Quantum Encryption and Communications. The integrity of a secure communications link can mean the difference between life and death in a defence environment. In the civilian arena, the security of electronic financial transactions is also critical to guard against 'cyber' theft. Encryption of data using unique quantum 'noise' as a key has been proposed as an exceptionally strong approach. Attempts to intercept the key during transmission can easily be detected.
Quantum key transmission has been demonstrated but requires impractically expensive, bulky and exotic equipment. This project will explore low-cost, silicon chip based quantum key transfer modules. Our aim is to render quantum encryption as simple as adding an expansion card to a standard computer or portable device.Read moreRead less
Next-Generation Optical Broadband Access for Rural and Regional Areas. Broadband services in less densely populated areas are a high priority for the Australian government as shown by the $1.1 billion 'Broadband Connect' program. Current commercial broadband access in less densely populated areas is both limited and expensive. Both CUBIN and NEC are committed to developing solutions that enable truly broadband services. NEC Australia's large research and development capability is unique and it, ....Next-Generation Optical Broadband Access for Rural and Regional Areas. Broadband services in less densely populated areas are a high priority for the Australian government as shown by the $1.1 billion 'Broadband Connect' program. Current commercial broadband access in less densely populated areas is both limited and expensive. Both CUBIN and NEC are committed to developing solutions that enable truly broadband services. NEC Australia's large research and development capability is unique and it, together with CUBIN, will convert this research into national benefits including:
-Creating new knowledge and innovation
-Attracting foreign investment and promoting exports
-Training high quality post-doctoral researchers and postgraduate students
-Supporting job creation and retaining talented people in AustraliaRead moreRead less