Sensors
Sensor technologies being investigated in this theme range from nano-wire biosensors and microchip radars to large scale sensor networks. This theme builds on previous research in adaptive sensor scheduling which developed practical approaches to optimized sensor tasking and network utilisation. There have been advances in the optimization of multi-function radars that can now be implemented using practical sensor-scheduling algorithms. The technology developed over the years has been applied to optimal UAV tasking and positioning for EW and radar applications as well as phased array resource scheduling. This theme is tackling the following areas:
- Adaptive sensor networks
- Cognitive radar
- Radar on a Chip (ROACH)
- Sensor scheduling
Theme Leaders:
Professor Stan Skafidas
Professor Skafidas leads NICTA's research into the development of next-generation retinal stimulation prostheses, building on his and his colleagues’ earlier research into developing the world’s first next-generation CMOS millimetre-wave wireless communications transceiver, which achieves data rates ten times that of current systems at one-tenth the cost.
Prior to joining NICTA in 2004, Professor Skafidas was Chief Technology Officer and co-founder of Bandspeed, a US-based developer of wireless semiconductor products, and led multinational teams that developed chipsets for ADSL, VDSL, Bluetooth™ and 802.11 a/b/g systems, which are being used by leading international companies to build wireless consumer products. At Bandspeed, Professor Skafidas was the co-inventor of AFH, a critical component of Bluetooth™ coexistence technology, which to date has been incorporated into over a billion Bluetooth™ devices.
Professor Skafidas is a Senior Member of the IEEE, a Fellow of the Institute of Engineers and a Voting Member of the 802 Standards Committee. He has held leadership positions at various standards committees and standardisation bodies. He is currently one of the editors of the IEEE 802.15.3c standards body, working towards systems operating in the millimetre-wave spectrum, delivering gigabit wireless speeds.
Dr Andrew Shaw
Research Leader – Radar. Electronic Warfare and Radar Division, DSTO
Dr. Andrew Shaw obtained first class honours in Physics with maths and a PhD in physics from the University of Reading. He joined the (then) UK Admiralty Research Establishment in 1986 working on optical and RF sensor technologies within the Special Research Group, where he worked on a number of innovative sensor systems. In 1996 Andrew was posted to the Applied Physics Laboratory, Johns Hopkins University for three years. In 2002 Andrew joined DSTO as the Research Leader Microwave Radar. Since 1982 Andrew has carried out research on long range passive and active optical sensors; optical signal processing, radar signal processing, sensor fusion and system co-ordination. Andrew's current research interests are in radar systems characterisation, radar clutter and radar signal processing.