1.

Ambient Energy Harvesting

Students will develop a selection of devices to collect power from their surroundings, such as heat, vibration, light, sound, RF energy.  Using this energy, the devices should then wirelessly report information about their power collection and use a central base station for collation.

Suits 2-4 students, with grades up to 7 possible.

2.

Human Powered Wearable Computing.

Computerised clothes are the next step towards making computers more portable. Means of powering these devices can be bulky and heavy and as such alternative strategies should be considered. Students will explore the possibility of harnessing the energy that humans expend through everyday activities. Students should also aim to develop a prototype system, to demonstrate and support their work.

Suits 2-4 students, with grades up to 7 possible.

3.

Embeddable clock source

Design and implement an embeddable clock source.  This could draw upon a satellite-based system (eg, GPS), a “standards” RF signal (WWV), or something else (eg, a pager broadcast).  This would go into VCRs, ovens, clocks, etc.

4.

Electronic Post-It Notes

Information posted on office doors in paper form (e.g. lecturer availability) is often out of date soon after posting or may become out of date when the office occupant is away from the office (and is therefore
unable to update the information). This project would involve developing an electronic replacement for the paper sign or post-it note, possibly based on a PalmPilot or Compaq handheld. Ideally, the device should be able to be updated from afar (over the network). Other possible options include (a) device provides capability for messages to be left, (b) device responds to Elvin (http://elvin.dstc.edu.au) notifications, (c) displayed information is extracted from a (remote) database/calendar system.

5.

Low Energy Wireless Protocols

Wireless sensors systems are being deployed in increasing numbers. Due to this large increase in the number of deployed sensor nodes, communication methodologies utilising minimal power should be considered. The student will consider low-energy networking, with respect to computation and communication trade-offs, with the possibility of creating a power aware software infrastructure.

Suits 1-2 students, with grades up to 7 possible.

6.

Modelling Impulse Radio with MATLAB

Impulse Radio is a form of Ultra Wideband spread spectrum radio that offers exciting potential in terms of high-speed mobile wireless applications. The student will model the system in MatLab in order to identify possible implementation issues and to demonstrate the potential of this new technology.  Use Hadel C to map the simulation to FPGA hardware.

Suits 2-3 students with possibility of grade of 7.

7.

PICONET  III

Design and implement an RF network communications between two Compaq Handhelds.  This is an extension of a project last year.  Now map it to Palm OS and have them all communicate, and communicate with a base station.

8.

Biomedical Wireless Sensor System

Design and implement a wireless system for recording medical data from a patient in a hospital (containing many such patients).  Could measure temperature, heart rate, ECG, EEG, etc.

Suits 1-2 students, with grades up to 7 possible.

10.

Developing the sentient office

The project aims to augment the office environment to gather information about the activities of its occupants, using a range of sensors.  The context information gathered by the sensors can be used in a wide range of applications.  It can support distributed teamwork by providing team members with an awareness of other members, enabling
* team members to determine appropriate times to interrupt other members with phone calls
 * messages for team members to be forwarded in a manner that is suited to their  activities; for example, when sitting at a desk, the member may receive information through an email, whereas when wandering around the office the information may be conveyed through a pager or mobile phone
 * applications that tailor their behaviour according to the user's current state, such as a reminder service that provides audio cues when the team member is alone in the office, and silent cues when the member is speaking on the phone or holding a meeting.

It is envisaged that sensors will provide information such as whether a member is sitting at a desk, speaking on the phone, or holding a conversation.

11.

Digital Ink

Build a pen that recognizes and stores the handwriting and drawings of its user.  After writing, the user jots the word “send” or “e-mail” followed by a FAX number or email address.  The documents are wirelessly sent via a cellular network to fax machines, desktop computers or even other digital pens

12.

Tilt Sensor

Build a button free tilt and gesture input device.  Look at its application within a small information appliance (PDA), or build an all-electronic simulation of a physical game.

15.

A Microphone Array for Multimedia Workstations and Conferences

Use beam-forming principles to achieve accurate control of the directivity of a microphone. Use for enhanced speech recognition by eliminating noisy backgrounds, allow for free roaming of the user, track the talker location, and track multiple talkers.

16.

Smart Telephone

Design and implement a system which can control a telephone from an online address book.  It should be able to dial a number from a name in the address book, display an incoming call using a name from the address book, and to act as a very smart answering machine.  It is also expect to use voice input-output to communicate with the user.

18.

Computerized Local PABX

Design and implement a microcomputer controlled telephone exchange. 8 subscriber lines and up to 3 central office lines. 12 speech paths to support non-blocked operation and support multiple conference calls in progress at the same time. Look at Internet phone access as well. Entire project needs more than one Honours student.

19.

Smart Objects

I am interested in building (physical) objects which have the ability to learn. This makes it easy for users to adapt them than systems which require programming. Imagine the little old grandma trying to program the VCR! Let's look at systems which learn our pattern of use, our preferences, and which try to predict what we will require next. For example, we can start with a smart light bulb that knows when it gets turned on and off, what the light levels were, who was in the room, what other appliances were turned on or off at the time. Or we can look at a TV, radio, or stereo which knows the programs we usually watch, given who is in the room, the time of day, our mood(how do you determine this?). Telephones that know who is using them and then adapt to that person - remind you to call your mum on her birthday, provide access to your personal address book, etc. There is a vast range of activity here. This involves both harware construction and software and research into user modelling and machine learning.

21.

YOUR-OWN-TOPIC

Suggest a topic to me and I'll see if it is doable at the Pass or Honours level.   I usually take on projects in the area of embedded systems, which includes short range RF comms as well.