Hot carrier cooling mechanisms in nano structures. This project aims to systematically investigate possible mechanisms of hot carrier cooling in nano structures and to identify the most dominant mechanisms. These are important for efficient hot carrier solar cells and thermoelectrics. This project will develop new physics to understand hot carrier dynamics in nano structures. This project is expected to result in photovoltaic systems with a lower balance of system and levelised cost of electrici ....Hot carrier cooling mechanisms in nano structures. This project aims to systematically investigate possible mechanisms of hot carrier cooling in nano structures and to identify the most dominant mechanisms. These are important for efficient hot carrier solar cells and thermoelectrics. This project will develop new physics to understand hot carrier dynamics in nano structures. This project is expected to result in photovoltaic systems with a lower balance of system and levelised cost of electricity compared to conventional technologies. This should boost solar industry, create green jobs and reduce greenhouse gas emissions.Read moreRead less
Biomimetic Design and Fabrication of Smart Dry Adhesives. Gecko footpads have unique structures with amazing features; imitating these fine bio-structures will lead to a multitude of innovations. This project aims to study fundamental principles governing adhesion phenomena for creating entirely new biomimetic nanomaterials with tunable adhesion, self-cleaning and controlled release capabilities. The gecko-mimicking materials and the associated dynamic effects will be characterized quantitativel ....Biomimetic Design and Fabrication of Smart Dry Adhesives. Gecko footpads have unique structures with amazing features; imitating these fine bio-structures will lead to a multitude of innovations. This project aims to study fundamental principles governing adhesion phenomena for creating entirely new biomimetic nanomaterials with tunable adhesion, self-cleaning and controlled release capabilities. The gecko-mimicking materials and the associated dynamic effects will be characterized quantitatively at multiscales and the nanoscale phenomena will be linked to macroscopic performance. The results of this research should provide a fundamental understanding of tunable adhesion mechanisms for the design and development of optimized materials with superb performance of practical significance.
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Robust Data-Driven Control for Safety-Critical Systems. This project aims to develop new approaches to controlling robotic and cyber-physical systems in safety-critical applications. This project expects to generate new knowledge in how to harness the power of machine learning for robot control, while guaranteeing safety and stability at all times. The outcomes of this project will be new algorithms and a deeper understanding of the interplay of data, learning, and models, as well as experimenta ....Robust Data-Driven Control for Safety-Critical Systems. This project aims to develop new approaches to controlling robotic and cyber-physical systems in safety-critical applications. This project expects to generate new knowledge in how to harness the power of machine learning for robot control, while guaranteeing safety and stability at all times. The outcomes of this project will be new algorithms and a deeper understanding of the interplay of data, learning, and models, as well as experimental validation on a surgical robot and a bipedal walking robot. This project will provide significant benefits by dramatically increasing the range of applications in which the power of machine learning can be safely applied to advance the capabilities and uptake of robotics.Read moreRead less
Orientated biointerfacing of cell-mimetic nanoparticles. The project aims to create next-generation cell-mimetic nanotechnology by providing in-depth understandings and precise control over cell membrane coating orientation of biomimetic nanoparticles. Our approach is to design and develop new synthetic and analytic strategies to construct and quantify orientated biointerfacing. This will generate new knowledge and patentable methodologies related to orientated biomimetic nanoparticles. Expected ....Orientated biointerfacing of cell-mimetic nanoparticles. The project aims to create next-generation cell-mimetic nanotechnology by providing in-depth understandings and precise control over cell membrane coating orientation of biomimetic nanoparticles. Our approach is to design and develop new synthetic and analytic strategies to construct and quantify orientated biointerfacing. This will generate new knowledge and patentable methodologies related to orientated biomimetic nanoparticles. Expected outcomes include significant contributions to Australia's scholarly outputs, enhanced national capacity in disruptive nanotechnology, new opportunities for national value-add material manufacturing, and long-term benefits to biomedical and veterinary industries through new materials and nanotechnologies.
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Distributed Estimation, Control and Optimisation for Networked Systems. This project aims to study large scale networked systems in major infrastructures including power networks, transportation networks, internet of things, and other cyber-physical systems. This project is expected to develop new methodology and algorithms for distributed estimation, control and optimisation of these systems. Distributed solutions are essential because traditional techniques which were designed for small system ....Distributed Estimation, Control and Optimisation for Networked Systems. This project aims to study large scale networked systems in major infrastructures including power networks, transportation networks, internet of things, and other cyber-physical systems. This project is expected to develop new methodology and algorithms for distributed estimation, control and optimisation of these systems. Distributed solutions are essential because traditional techniques which were designed for small systems are not suitable for efficient operations of large scale systems. Application examples include distributed state estimation for power networks, control of multi-agent systems and optimal scheduling of transportation networks. The outcomes of this project are vital to the understanding and management of these systems. Read moreRead less
Electromagnetically Interconnected Suspension for Electrified Vehicles . This project aims to develop an innovative, electromagnetically interconnected suspension system to enhance vehicle ride comfort, stability and handling dynamics, and thus safety of electrified vehicles. Specifically, the project integrates a set of novel electromagnetic shock absorbers to form an effective electrical network so as to realise an electromagnetically interconnected suspension system. Advanced integrated con ....Electromagnetically Interconnected Suspension for Electrified Vehicles . This project aims to develop an innovative, electromagnetically interconnected suspension system to enhance vehicle ride comfort, stability and handling dynamics, and thus safety of electrified vehicles. Specifically, the project integrates a set of novel electromagnetic shock absorbers to form an effective electrical network so as to realise an electromagnetically interconnected suspension system. Advanced integrated control techniques can then be applied to improve vehicle performance and dynamics in three planes. The project will assist the rapid development of transportation electrification. The outcomes from this project will lead to tangible improvements in vehicle comfort and safety.Read moreRead less
Efficient photovoltaic-electrochemical water splitting for clean hydrogen. This project aims to develop a novel, low cost and high performance monolithic photovoltaic-electrochemical (PV-EC) device for clean hydrogen production. This device tailors and integrates low cost and high performance thin film and tandem photovoltaics for water splitting with the aim of achieving high solar to hydrogen conversion efficiency towards 20%. Earth abundant and stable catalysts will be developed in this proje ....Efficient photovoltaic-electrochemical water splitting for clean hydrogen. This project aims to develop a novel, low cost and high performance monolithic photovoltaic-electrochemical (PV-EC) device for clean hydrogen production. This device tailors and integrates low cost and high performance thin film and tandem photovoltaics for water splitting with the aim of achieving high solar to hydrogen conversion efficiency towards 20%. Earth abundant and stable catalysts will be developed in this project to replace noble based catalysts, as well as novel architectures for electrical contacting, feed-through and catalyst integration in PV-EC devices. These innovations offer high performance and the potential for device costs 2 to 3 orders of magnitude lower than recent world record photoelectrochemical devices. Read moreRead less
Accelerated Finite-time Learning and Control in Cyber-Physical Systems. Efficient learning and control in cyber-physical systems such as smart grids and robotic systems are very important for achieving economic and social benefits. This project aims to establish a breakthrough accelerated finite-time dynamics theory and technology to assist in delivering efficient learning and control. Expected outcomes include new distributed accelerated finite-time dynamics based learning and control algorithm ....Accelerated Finite-time Learning and Control in Cyber-Physical Systems. Efficient learning and control in cyber-physical systems such as smart grids and robotic systems are very important for achieving economic and social benefits. This project aims to establish a breakthrough accelerated finite-time dynamics theory and technology to assist in delivering efficient learning and control. Expected outcomes include new distributed accelerated finite-time dynamics based learning and control algorithms and tools for optimal operations in cyber-physical systems. This should provide significant benefits including a practical technology for industry applications in smart grids and robotic systems, and training of the next generation engineers in this technology for Australia.Read moreRead less
Safe, Plug and Play, Multi Agent Dynamic Systems. From driverless cars, to networks of nano satellites, and complex biological networks, the modern world has many examples of multi agent dynamic systems that need careful coordination and control to perform correctly. In many cases, these systems are built up using designs based on intuition, computer simulations and empirical testing. However, there is a clear need to advance the fundamental understandings of such systems: (i) Verifiable overall ....Safe, Plug and Play, Multi Agent Dynamic Systems. From driverless cars, to networks of nano satellites, and complex biological networks, the modern world has many examples of multi agent dynamic systems that need careful coordination and control to perform correctly. In many cases, these systems are built up using designs based on intuition, computer simulations and empirical testing. However, there is a clear need to advance the fundamental understandings of such systems: (i) Verifiable overall dynamic system properties need to be derived to give assurance of performance in situations not previously envisaged; (ii) It is also critical to understand stable system behaviours not just with fixed configurations, but with agile configurations such as splitting, merging, and morphingRead moreRead less
Cell Membrane Coated Photonic Crystal to study Receptor-Ligand Interactions. The current gold-standard assays for examining receptor-ligand interactions require expensive and costly fluorescent or radioactive labels or proteomics processes. This project aims to develop Artificial Photonic Cells by directly coating photonic crystals with cell membranes. The Artificial Photonic Cells retain the protein receptors in their native cell membrane environment and allow for label-free monitoring of the r ....Cell Membrane Coated Photonic Crystal to study Receptor-Ligand Interactions. The current gold-standard assays for examining receptor-ligand interactions require expensive and costly fluorescent or radioactive labels or proteomics processes. This project aims to develop Artificial Photonic Cells by directly coating photonic crystals with cell membranes. The Artificial Photonic Cells retain the protein receptors in their native cell membrane environment and allow for label-free monitoring of the receptor-ligand interactions using inexpensive miniature spectrometers - radically transforming these assays. This would generate fundamental and applied knowledge of materials sciences, photonic, and biointerfaces for label-free, ultra-sensitive, and selective assays to enable future drug and diagnostics target discovery. Read moreRead less