The University of Sydney received ARC Linkage 2024 Grant and has Partnered with Roobuck

The Australian Research Council, ARC, is a Commonwealth entity within the Australian Government and was established as an independent body. In 2024 there were 56 new research grants under the Linkage Projects scheme.

The University of Sydney won a grant of $787,764 over 3 years and partnered with Roobuck to research “Efficient Intelligent Omni-surfaces for enhancing Mine Wireless Coverage. This project is valued at $2,000,000.

WiFi is the most deployed wireless technology for underground mines. However, existing mines face significant limitations in wireless coverage due to the prohibitive costs associated with deploying numerous access points across vast and intricate tunnel networks. Our project aims to address this challenge by developing an innovative and cost-effective solution based on Intelligent Omni-Surfaces to seamlessly extend wireless coverage across vast underground mines. By significantly expanding wireless coverage, our project will revolutionise mine communications, paving the way for the digital transformation of mine operations. This advancement will enhance mining activities’ productivity, efficiency, and operational safety.

This technology combined with our long-range WiFi technology developed under PSF grant, and planar reflecting radio antenna technology developed under ACARP grant will create the world’s first wide coverage, low cost and energy efficient broadband network for underground mines.

For more information visit the following website.

https://rms.arc.gov.au/RMS/Report/Download/Report/1b0c8b2e-7bb0-4f2d-8f52-ad207cfbb41d/269