Engineered systems

Automation, control and robotics are present in almost every modern electronic device, from the self-service cashiers at our local grocery stores, to the rovers exploring Mars. We focus on the creation of intelligent and adaptive systems, designing and building the next generation of smart systems that will interact with, and improve the lives of, people in interesting and unique ways.

Biomedical Engineering is the application of engineering principles, design concepts and technology to the fields of medicine, biology, health science and healthcare in general. Biomedical Engineers are responsible for designing, building, testing, and developing devices, tools, and systems to better understand or improve health and quality of life.

Civil and Environmental Engineering connects with many aspects of the built and natural environment, developing practical approaches to everyday community needs, both now and into the future. Research in this area includes the development of innovative and sustainable infrastructure solutions that support the needs of an ever-changing society, investigating fields largely associated with structural, geotechnical, transport, environmental and water engineering.

The Defence community is turning to unmanned platforms to reduce cost and risk, and increase capability and capacity. Maritime Autonomy is a game-changing area of research centred on engineering trusted autonomous heterogenous platforms that can securely and collaboratively operate across different domains with minimal dependence on their operators. Communications & Security is about protecting data carried between platforms, satellites and humans. Our role is to ensure that the data reaches its intended recipient exclusively, uninterrupted and unaltered, thus providing confidence in the connectivity and data received and reinforcing trust in the system. Additionally, our Industry 4.0 defence research assists the workforce with a focus on industrial robots, cobots, digital twins, exoskeletons and human factors. 

In electrical and electronic engineering systems, the electrical energy conversion plays a major role. Our centre conducts research in several key areas, including wind power, solar PV, grid connection, hybrid power systems and integration of energy storages to such systems. It also includes the transportation electrification in which the sustainable energy efficient solutions are realised by advanced electric motors, power electronics, energy management systems and controls for electrified powertrains, electric vehicles etc.

Flinders University has a strong research standing in Materials, Mechanical and Manufacturing engineering. Our group is highly interdisciplinary and focuses on structure, production technologies and properties of materials and mechanical behaviours of high-tech products. Relevant industries include energy, automotive, aeronautical/aerospace, medical devices, maritime/offshore, civil and construction.