Bird inspired drone deliveries, lunar soil analysis: meet two future sensing leaders
Meet two future leaders in smart sensing in NSW and read about their applications of sensors to solve real world problems.
(Left) University of Sydney PhD candidate Balsam Alkouz is working on a novel Swarm-Based Drone-as-a-Service model to efficiently and cost-effectively deliver multiple packages.
(Right) University of Wollongong PhD student Molly Kirkpatrick is applying sensing technologies usually used for the terrestrial mining industry to space.
Credit: Supplied.
Meet Molly Kirkpatrick
University of Wollongong PhD student, Molly Kirkpatrick, won her university’s Three-Minute Thesis Competition in August with her presentation One miniature sensor: Creating big possibilities in space.
The Three Minute Thesis competition is an international competition which sees Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) candidates demonstrating their communication skills while showcasing their research.
Tell me a bit about yourself and what you are studying?
I am a 3rd year PhD student working with the University of Wollongong’s School of Physics in partnership with Australia’s national science agency, CSIRO. My research focuses on how we can apply sensing technologies usually used for the terrestrial mining industry to space. It’s an area of research called ‘in-situ resource utilisation’ (ISRU). This means, instead of sending materials to the Moon (or Mars or anywhere else), we can use the materials available in the lunar (or Martian) environment.
I am developing a new measurement and analysis technique to detect metals and other elements that relies on the physics of X-ray Fluorescence but flips it around and inside out and applies it in a novel way. My other project involves developing a payload for elemental analysis on the lunar surface.
Outside of my PhD, I have a passion for science education and outreach and in particular supporting women in STEM. Through my degrees I have worked with the University in their outreach team developing and delivering workshops to primary and high school students and have helped plan and deliver UOW’s STEM Camp for Girls (now called the EmpowerHER Summit). While working with CSIRO I have written some articles for the CSIRO blogs and Resourceful magazine. In my free time, I love to crochet (I’m currently working on a floral bouquet!), play volleyball, and watch trashy TV.
You recently won the University of Wollongong’s Three Minute Thesis (3MT) competition. What was your winning entry about?
My 3MT entry was all about the payload I have been developing. We call it the MiniXRF because it is a super small X-ray Fluorescence (XRF) instrument. It works by shooting X-rays into the material of interest. These X-rays are absorbed by the atoms in the material, which induces the emission of more X-rays which have very specific energies. The payload contains a detector that measures the number and energy of the emitted photons.
We can then look at the resulting spectra and figure out the concentration of elements in the material. I have built a working prototype that operates remotely and written a bunch of software to control the instrument and analyse the spectra. It is designed to be used for monitoring mineral processing operations on the surface of the Moon (or anywhere else) to support ISRU work.
Photos show Molly (right) and the MiniXRF attached to a remote control ‘rover’ at the Lunar Test Bed (left). Credit: Supplied.
What inspired you to start working with sensors?
Honestly, I got here by accident! But I wouldn’t change it for anything. A friend forwarded me an application for a summer internship with CSIRO’s Sensing and Sorting Group, so I applied without thinking too hard about it. During that summer, I learned so much about X-ray physics and research in general and was mentored by a great team of people. They then offered me an honours project and eventually a PhD, so I’m still here!
I love that sensors can tell us more about our environment than we could ever know using our five human senses.
What project or research are you working on now?
I’m working on lots of things now! I am doing a lot of simulations, still working to develop this novel XRF technique and working on the MiniXRF. Now that I have a working MiniXRF prototype we are diving in to everything you need to do to get a payload ‘space ready’. We have to make sure all the materials and components used are space-rated, do lots of environmental testing (like vibration tests, thermal tests, radiation-hardness tests…) and a lot of paperwork. We don’t know yet if it will actually get a chance to go to space, but it definitely won’t if we don’t try!
Where do you want to be in five years time?
I’ve always loved space (who doesn’t!) and feel so lucky to be able to contribute to this area. So, in five years, I hope to still be working in the space sensors industry. It would be amazing if by then the MiniXRF has a home somewhere on the Moon and we are busy working on the next version. Dream big right?
This project is supported by the UOW School of Physics, CSIRO’s Autonomous Sensor FSP (https://research.csiro.au/autonomous-sensors-fsp/) and CSIRO’s Space Technologies FSP (https://research.csiro.au/space/).
Molly's virtual presentation is currently being reviewed by judges who will select eight finalists on October 9 to compete against university 3MT semi-finalists from across Australia, New Zealand, Oceania, North-East Asia and South-East Asia in the 2023 Virtual Asia-Pacific 3MT Competition on October 18.
University of Sydney PhD candidate Balsam Alkouz (left) and testing out the drone swarms in the lab (right). Credit: Supplied.
Meet Balsam Alkouz
The Visualise Your Thesis is an international program that challenges graduate researchers to present their research in a 60-second audio-visual explainer.
University of Sydney PhD candidate Balsam Alkouz won her university’s Visualise your Thesis competition for her video presentation Swarm-Based Drone-as-a-Service (SDaaS) for Delivery
Tell me a bit about yourself and what you are studying?
I am Balsam Alkouz, a PhD candidate at the University of Sydney in Australia. I earned my bachelor's degree in IT Multimedia and my Master's degree in Computer Science from the University of Sharjah in the United Arab Emirates, graduating in 2016 and 2018, respectively. My research interests focus on IoT, Service Computing, and Data Mining.
I am humbled by the recognition I have received for my academic pursuits, including the Zonta International Women in Technology scholarship in 2021 and the Best Student Paper Award at the 2023 International Conference in Web Services (ICWS).
In 2022, I had the privilege of being selected as one of the top 100 young researchers in computer science for the Heidelberg Laureates Forum. Additionally, I am grateful to have been awarded the Anita Borg scholarship in 2021 and 2015. I've also had the opportunity to participate in Google events, which has been a valuable experience and has allowed me to contribute to both academia and the tech community in meaningful ways.
You recently won the University of Sydney’s Visualise your Thesis competition. What was your winning entry about?
My entry in the University of Sydney's Visualise your Thesis competition centred around the growing interest in utilising drones as a cost-effective, efficient, and environmentally friendly solution in various domains. Specifically, within the realm of delivery services, where the demand for contactless and efficient delivery solutions has risen significantly, drone delivery has emerged as a promising option offering faster and more eco-friendly deliveries. Although single drone delivery offers numerous advantages, it faces significant challenges in scenarios where multiple packages require simultaneous delivery. Flight regulations, which often limit the carrying capacity of individual drones, necessitate the exploration of alternative solutions.
To address this, my video presentation (see below) introduced a novel Swarm-Based Drone-as-a-Service (SDaaS) model and framework for multiple package delivery. The focal point of my video featured a 3D visualization demonstrating the efficient delivery of multiple packages by swarms of drones within urban environments. This proposed framework prioritises the composition of services that optimise Quality of Service (QoS) factors, such as delivery time and energy consumption.
What inspired you to start working with sensors?
Working with sensors in the context of drone technology was inspired by the versatility of drones as IoT devices equipped with sensors, offering powerful connectivity. The pressing need for drone delivery, especially during pandemic periods when contactless deliveries became crucial, served as a primary motivator. Additionally, the potential of drones to bring convenience across various sectors and their ability to respond swiftly in emergencies, overcoming challenging terrains, was inspiring. Recognizing the transformative potential of IoT technology, I integrated it into our drone swarm project for delivery.
What project or research are you working on now?
I am currently continuing my work on the Swarm-Based Drone-as-a-Service project, with a new focus on enhancing the resilience of drone swarms. In this research, we are dedicated to understanding and addressing various types of failures that can occur within a drone swarm. Our aim is to develop strategies to mitigate these failures to ensure that consumers are not adversely affected by any potential issues. Additionally, I am collaborating with undergraduate students on a precision landing project, where our objective is to enhance the accuracy of drone landings. This effort is crucial for the safety of both the drone and the packages it carries, as well as for optimizing delivery efficiency.
Where do you want to be in five years time?
My goal is to establish myself as a leading academic in my field at my career level. I am deeply passionate about sharing knowledge, whether through research or teaching, and I aspire to pursue a fulfilling academic career in the coming years.
Balsam will now be competing in the VYT International program.
She will also participate in the Trending on VYT competition, where the winner is the participant whose video receives the highest number of views between Monday, October 2 and Friday, October 6, 2023. Watch Balsam’s video.
Interviews by Diane Nazaroff