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The university is set to work in collaboration with the ADF to develop event-based sensing capability in the underwater environment, after receiving a grant from the US Office of Naval Research, Defence Industry Minister Melissa Price has announced.
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The US Navy’s Office of Naval Research (ONR) has awarded a US$45,944 'Global-X' grant to Western Sydney University, as part of a broader program to foster innovation by promoting global industry collaboration.
The grant is expected to be used to enhance event-based sensing technology in the underwater environment, developed by lead researchers, Dr Moritz Milde, and associate professor Gregory Cohen from the university’s International Centre for Neuromorphic Systems (ICNS).
The technology is currently used for space exploration at the university's Astrosite mobile space observatory, and will be deployed to the International Space Station in November 2021.
“Our event-based sensors do really well in extreme environments, we have demonstrated success with these sensors for space-related applications including Space Situational Awareness to track satellites, space junk, and other objects in orbit," Cohen added.
“We are now expanding upon the capabilities of our event-based sensors, and further developing our technology for use underwater to solve real-world problems in challenging environments.
“It is the first time that these sensors have been used underwater, and we are very excited about the possibilities.”
According to Dr Milde, the technology mimics brain and eye functionality to produce sharper imaging, improving speed and data efficiency.
“Movement would normally blur conventional camera images, making them unclear, and restricting use to controlled environments. However, with our event-based cameras, waves and movement in the water enhances the imagery and helps the sensors to generate clearer images of changes in the environment," he said.
“Our sensors can be used underwater to detect, track and monitor dynamic phenomena such as air bubbles and bioluminescence generated by submersible vehicles.
“The technology can also be used for environmental monitoring, distributed early warning systems, high speed object detection, marine pollution detection, and celestial navigation.”
The university will work in collaboration with the Australian Defence Force, which Defence Industry Minister Melissa Price said would help to provide the nation’s military and its allies with enhanced capability, particularly in the Indo-Pacific.
“As a key member of the NSW Defence Innovation Network, Western Sydney University has been able to develop relations with the United States Military, leading to increased exposure and cooperation with our closest ally," Minister Price said.
Professor Deborah Sweeney, deputy vice-chancellor research, enterprise and international, added, “The university’s neuromorphic systems research capability continues to go from strength to strength, with our researchers discovering new, innovative ways to apply the technology and find solutions to some of our most important, real-world challenges.
“The university is proud of our International Centre for Neuromorphic Systems and its researchers, and we congratulate them on this latest grant success.”
The nine-month project will be supported by an international team of researchers from the University of Queensland, University of Zurich, ETH Zurich, and the University of Illinois.
[Related: HeliMods secures Defence Global Competitiveness Grant]
Charbel Kadib
News Editor – Defence and Security, Momentum Media
Prior to joining the defence and aerospace team in 2020, Charbel was news editor of The Adviser and Mortgage Business, where he covered developments in the banking and financial services sector for three years. Charbel has a keen interest in geopolitics and international relations, graduating from the University of Notre Dame with a double major in politics and journalism. Charbel has also completed internships with The Australian Department of Communications and the Arts and public relations agency Fifty Acres.
