Dr Derek Rogers
PhD Ideas
Improved ship-board man overboard
search and track systems
 The EMI impact of personal electronic
devices on aeroplane systems
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A collection of other areas of interest
Ideas for PhD Topics
Background
 One of the sensors on many naval vessels
is an Infra-Red Search and Track (IRST)
system
 IRST systems are often used for missile
detection but can also be used for man
overboard detection and tracking.
 When placed on a ship a sensor has to
contend with roll/pitch/yaw of the ship,
various sea states and often a very small
target (the person overboard) to try and
detect and track.
Problem
 The intent of the PhD would be to look at
ways of improving IRST systems in the
context of man overboard detection and
tracking
○ Taking into account the mounting on a ship
and the maritime environment
 ‘Improving’ means increased probability of
detection and tracking under adverse
conditions:
○ Sea state, atmospheric conditions, solar
conditions
Research Direction
 The research can explore a number of
directions but should explore and consider
the performance of detection and tracking
algorithms under different situations and
look to improve them:
○ Perhaps by taking into account input from
other sensors to provide an increased
probability of detection and tracking stability
○ Perhaps by taking into account image
recognition
Skills and Behaviours
 Anyone interested should first have an
interest in solving the problem, then a
strength in mathematical modelling and
simulation with a very practical focus.
 The research may involve aspects of radar
theory, electro-optics and control theory.
 The research will require understanding
maritime systems and the maritime
environment.
Ideas for PhD Topics
Background
 Most people are familiar with the phrase
“Please turn off all electronic equipment
because it may interfere with aircraft
navigation systems”
 Firstly, that is the safest thing to do
 But there is increasing prevalence of
personal communications devices
○ Most people turn them off,
○ Some people forget or don’t know how; and
○ Some people wilfully keep them on.
Background
 One of the other reasons for turning phones
off related to the effect on networks of a high
altitude (high power) mobile.
 Modern devices are much lower power,
higher frequencies, use more modern
modulation techniques.
 There has been some research into
EMI/EMC in aeroplanes but not much
Problem
 The intent of the PhD would be
○ To model to a reasonable fidelity EMC from
personal devices in aeroplanes under a
variety of scenarios
○ Identify the effects of EMC on different
aeroplane systems
○ Propose and analyse ways of allowing the two
systems to safely co-exist
Research Direction
 The research can explore a number of
directions but should explore:
○ Different ways to model the problem and the
strengths and limitations of the different
models
○ Consider the fidelity of the devices modelled,
the susceptibility of aircraft systems
○ People and other insulators / reflectors
 Involves understanding EMI/EMC,
communications systems, mathematical
modelling
Skills and Behaviours
 Anyone interested should first have an
interest in solving the problem, then a
strength in mathematical modelling and
simulation with a very practical focus.
 The research may involve aspects of
EMI/EMC, communications systems, and
physiology.
 The research will require understanding
aerospace and communications systems.
Ideas for PhD Topics
Other areas
 The following ideas require further
development into research topics
○ Flexible Solar Generation and Storage
Systems
○ Soft Robots
Flexible Solar Generation and
Storage Systems
 New technologies allow the creation of ‘flexible’
batteries; [Soon to be published in ‘Nature’]
 Similarly another new technology is a paint that
has solar generation properties.
 The research would investigate and analyse
these technologies
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Why does it matter?
 Imagine the ability to ‘paint’ your car or your roof
to make it into a solar generation system and
imagine a battery that could be moulded to the
roof storing the energy for night time use.
Soft Robots
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Robots are hard metallic things, right?
 Not for long, new robotic systems are to able
to adapt their shapes to climb under or over
things, the use air to inflate, deflate and
change shape.
 This leads to a whole series of research
topics on the integration of different sensors
and control of such systems.
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Why does it matter?
 Soft robots will find more acceptance in the
consumer (home) market.
About Dr Derek Rogers
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Adjunct of the School of Electrical and
Electronic Engineering
 Previously co-supervised one student in
the area of Image Watermarking – they
successfully completed their PhD
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Also an Adjunct Associate Professor
at the University of South Australia
 Primary supervisor for one student in the
area of Software Acquisition – they
successfully completed their PhD in 2012.
Biography
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Currently the Deputy Systems Engineering
Manager – Amphibious Assault Ships (LHD)
with Saab Systems
Prior to this worked with BAE Systems for 5
years, Motorola for 5 years, CTIN for 3 years
Has over 30 publications on a wide range of
engineering topics
Sits on the Federal Government’s Advisory
Council on Intellectual Property (ACIP)
Has won numerous academic and corporate
best practice awards
Has travelled extensively around the world