Staff Profile
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Career Summary
Biography
Brett Ninness began life in Singleton, Australia and received his BE, ME and Ph.D degrees in Electrical Engineering from the University of Newcastle, Australia, where he is currently appointed as Professor and has worked in Assistant Dean, Deputy Head of Faculty and Pro Vice Chancellor (Acting) roles.
His research interests are in the areas of dynamic system modelling, system identification, and stochastic signal processing, in which he has authored over a hundred papers. He has served on the editorial boards of Automatica, IEEE Transactions on Automatic Control and as Editor in Chief for IET Control Theory and Applications, and as a member of the Australian Research Council College of Experts. He has also served as chair of international committees, included the International Federation of Automatic Control (IFAC) Technical Committee on Modelling, Identification and Signal Processing and the Institute of Electrical and Electronic Engineers (IEEE) Technical Committee on System Identification and Adaptive Control.
Qualifications
- PhD, University of Newcastle, 29/04/1994
- Master of Engineering, University of Newcastle, 03/05/1991
- Bachelor of Engineering, University of Newcastle, 02/05/1987
Research
Research keywords
- Automatic Control
- Signal Processing
- System Identification
- Wireless communications
Research expertise
My research is concerned with the processing of noise corrupted signals. Within this theme, my home area is the science of System Identification which addresses the following problem.
Given particular observations of the behaviour of a system, develop a mathematical model for it which can be used (for example) to control it via feedback, predict its performance under different operating regimes, compensate for limitations in its performance, or diagnose faults and changes in it.
Recently, I have begun new research directions in the area of signal processing for wireless communications, largely via interaction with industry partners Bell Labs, Agere Systems and LSI Logic.
Languages
- English
Fields of Research
| Code | Description | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| 090600 | Electrical And Electronic Engineering | 75 |
| 010299 | Applied Mathematics Not Elsewhere Classified | 15 |
| 091399 | Mechanical Engineering Not Elsewhere Classified | 10 |
Memberships
Editorial Board.
- Associate Editor Handling approximately 20 papers per year - Automatica
- Associate Editor handling approximately 20 papers per year - IEEE Transactions on Automatic Control
Appointments
| Editor in Chief Institution of Engineering and Technology - Control Theory and Applications (United Kingdom) | 01/09/2006 |
| ARC Ozreader, Maths and IT RFCD Australian Research Council (Australia) | 01/01/2002 |
| Organising Chair, 14th IFAC Symposium on System Identification International Federation on Automatic Control (Austria) | 01/06/2004 - 01/04/2006 |
| Chair - IFAC Technical Committee on Modelling, Identification and Signal Processing International Federation on Automatic Control (Austria) | 01/07/2005 |
| Chair, IEEE Technical Committee on Identification and Adaptive Control Institution of Electrical and Electronic Engineers (United States) | 01/01/2007 |
Awards
Distinction.
| 2001 | Tall Poppy Award Australian Institute of Political Science (Australia) Contribution to Scientific Research |
|---|
Collaboration
Royal Institute of Technology, Stockholm, Sweden
Linköping University, Linköping, Sweden.
Vrije Universiteit Brussel, Brussels Belgium
Administrative
Administrative expertise
I have experience and hence expertise in School, Faculty and University wide governance. I served on the University promotions committee for three years, served as an Assistant Dean (Research Training) for my Faculty of three years, and am currently deputy head of faculty.
Teaching
Teaching keywords
- Automatic Control
- Circuit Theory
- Communications
- Digital Signal Processing
- Embedded Systems
- Linear Electronics
- Signals and Systems
Teaching expertise
My teaching experience over the last twenty years has covered a wide range of
the electrical engineering and engineering mathematics curriculum.
This includes the areas of systems and signal theory, signal processing, digital
systems, embedded systems, circuit theory, communications and linear
electronics.
Edit
- Indicates that the researcher may be seeking students for this project.A novel framework for designing input excitation for system identification$339,233
New System Identification and Estimation Methods using Convex Relaxation Techniques$20,000
Multicore Computing of Advanced Engine Control Algorithms$109,731
System Identification of Complex System Models$330,000
New Model Predictive Control Design Methods$170,000
Fast and Robust Model Predictive Control$20,000
Advanced nonlinear constrained control$15,000
Advancing System Identification using Modern Optimisation Methods$246,090
PRC - Priority Research Centre for Energy$549,282
New Approaches for the Estimation of Complex Dynamic System Models$336,000
New Methods and Microelectronics for Wireless Communication Systems$720,000
New methods and microelectronics for wireless communication systems$250,000
Australian Communications Research Network (ACoRN)$50,000
System Identification and Diagnosis via Markov Chain Monte Carlo Methods$9,933
Robust Control and System Identification of Highly Resonant Systems.$176,497
New Methods for Dynamic System Estimation$360,000
Advanced Space-Time Coded Multiuser Wireless Communications via Test-bed Development$194,285
Advanced Space-Time Coded Multiuser Wireless Communications via Test-bed Development.$75,000
Development of a Space-Time coded Wireless Local Area Network$14,000
Applications of Advanced Control to Materials Rolling$186,000
Applications of Advanced Control to Materials Rolling.$60,000
IFAC International Symposium on System Identification.$2,400
System Identification of Nonlinear Dynamic Systems for Closed Loop Control Applications$176,240
Nonlinear Identification and Control via Pilot Plant Experimentation.$11,500
Signature Set Design for Code-Division Multiple Access Communications.$11,000
Mathematical Theory of Networks and Systems, Italy 6-10 July 1998$2,400
EXAMINATION OF THE USE OF ORTHONORMAL BASIS FUNCTIONS IN SYSTEM IDENTIFICATION$90,000
Development of improved methods for estimation of audio signals for applications in speech compression and recognition.$7,000
International Federation of the Automatic Control World Congress - San Fransisco$2,400
European Control Conference (Rome) - 22-25 August 1995$2,500
Analysis of the Interplay between system identification and robust controller design$102,677
Speech coding and reconstruction for the purposes of arbitrary time scale modification, pitch modification and data compression.$6,000
10th IFAC Symposium on system Identification & Annual Baltimore/Copenhagen American Control Conference - 29 June-1 July & 4-6 July 1994$2,500
'Annual IEEE Conf. on Decision & Control', San Antonio, Texas, 15 - 17 Dec 1993$2,300
Research On Industrial Control Projects$10,000
Grants and Funding
Summary
| Number of grants | 35 |
|---|---|
| Total funding | $4,659,968 |
For project grants received where the lead institution is other than the University of Newcastle, details are shown in italics.
Click on a grant title below to expand the full details for that specific grant.
2013 (2 grants)
A novel framework for designing input excitation for system identification$339,233
Funding Body: ARC (Australian Research Council)
| Project Team | ||
|---|---|---|
| Associate Professor Kaushik Mahata, Professor Brett Ninness | ||
| Scheme | Role | |
| Discovery Projects | Investigator | |
| Total Amount | Funding Start | Funding Finish |
| $339,233 | 2013 | 2015 |
| GNo:G1200242 | ||
New System Identification and Estimation Methods using Convex Relaxation Techniques$20,000
Funding Body: University of Newcastle
| Project Team | ||
|---|---|---|
| Professor Brett Ninness | ||
| Scheme | Role | |
| Near Miss Grant | Chief Investigator | |
| Total Amount | Funding Start | Funding Finish |
| $20,000 | 2013 | 2013 |
| GNo:G1300462 | ||
2011 (1 grants)
Multicore Computing of Advanced Engine Control Algorithms$109,731
Funding Body: General Motors, USA.
| Project Team | ||
|---|---|---|
| Professor Brett Ninness, Doctor Adrian Wills | ||
| Scheme | Role | |
| Research Grant | Chief Investigator | |
| Total Amount | Funding Start | Funding Finish |
| $109,731 | 2011 | 2012 |
| GNo:G1000979 | ||
2010 (2 grants)
System Identification of Complex System Models$330,000
Funding Body: ARC (Australian Research Council)
| Project Team | ||
|---|---|---|
| Professor Brett Ninness | ||
| Scheme | Role | |
| Discovery Projects | Chief Investigator | |
| Total Amount | Funding Start | Funding Finish |
| $330,000 | 2010 | 2014 |
| GNo:G0190055 | ||
New Model Predictive Control Design Methods$170,000
Funding Body: ARC (Australian Research Council)
| Project Team | ||
|---|---|---|
| Professor Brett Ninness, Associate Professor Steven Weller | ||
| Scheme | Role | |
| Discovery Projects | Chief Investigator | |
| Total Amount | Funding Start | Funding Finish |
| $170,000 | 2010 | 2012 |
| GNo:G0190095 | ||
2009 (1 grants)
Fast and Robust Model Predictive Control$20,000
Funding Body: University of Newcastle
| Project Team | ||
|---|---|---|
| Doctor Adrian Wills, Professor Brett Ninness, Doctor Geoffrey Knagge | ||
| Scheme | Role | |
| Near Miss Grant | Investigator | |
| Total Amount | Funding Start | Funding Finish |
| $20,000 | 2009 | 2009 |
| GNo:G0189828 | ||
2008 (1 grants)
Advanced nonlinear constrained control$15,000
Funding Body: University of Newcastle
| Project Team | ||
|---|---|---|
| Doctor Adrian Wills, Professor Brett Ninness | ||
| Scheme | Role | |
| Pilot Grant | Investigator | |
| Total Amount | Funding Start | Funding Finish |
| $15,000 | 2008 | 2008 |
| GNo:G0189105 | ||
2007 (1 grants)
Advancing System Identification using Modern Optimisation Methods$246,090
Funding Body: ARC (Australian Research Council)
| Project Team | ||
|---|---|---|
| Professor Brett Ninness, Doctor Adrian Wills | ||
| Scheme | Role | |
| Discovery Projects | Chief Investigator | |
| Total Amount | Funding Start | Funding Finish |
| $246,090 | 2007 | 2009 |
| GNo:G0186347 | ||
2006 (2 grants)
PRC - Priority Research Centre for Energy$549,282
Funding Body: University of Newcastle
| Project Team | ||
|---|---|---|
| Professor Bogdan Dlugogorski, Professor Behdad Moghtaderi, Emeritus Professor Robert Antonia, Professor Lyazid Djenidi, Associate Professor Jose De Dona, Professor Eric Kennedy, Associate Professor John Lucas, Conjoint Professor John Mackie, Professor Marcel Maeder, Professor Brett Ninness, Emeritus Professor Adrian Page, Associate Professor Marian Radny, Associate Professor Phillip Smith, Professor Edward Szczerbicki, Emeritus Professor Terry Wall | ||
| Scheme | Role | |
| Priority Research Centre | Investigator | |
| Total Amount | Funding Start | Funding Finish |
| $549,282 | 2006 | 2013 |
| GNo:G0186921 | ||
New Approaches for the Estimation of Complex Dynamic System Models$336,000
Funding Body: ARC (Australian Research Council)
| Project Team | ||
|---|---|---|
| Professor Brett Ninness | ||
| Scheme | Role | |
| Discovery Projects | Chief Investigator | |
| Total Amount | Funding Start | Funding Finish |
| $336,000 | 2006 | 2008 |
| GNo:G0185319 | ||
2005 (4 grants)
New Methods and Microelectronics for Wireless Communication Systems$720,000
Funding Body: ARC (Australian Research Council)
| Project Team | ||
|---|---|---|
| Professor Brett Ninness, Associate Professor Steven Weller, Dr Graeme Woodward, Dr Mark Bickerstaff, Dr Adriel Kind, Dr L Davis | ||
| Scheme | Role | |
| Linkage Projects | Chief Investigator | |
| Total Amount | Funding Start | Funding Finish |
| $720,000 | 2005 | 2009 |
| GNo:G0184265 | ||
New methods and microelectronics for wireless communication systems$250,000
Funding Body: Agere Systems Australia Pty Ltd
| Project Team | ||
|---|---|---|
| Professor Brett Ninness, Associate Professor Steven Weller | ||
| Scheme | Role | |
| Linkage Projects Partner funding | Chief Investigator | |
| Total Amount | Funding Start | Funding Finish |
| $250,000 | 2005 | 2009 |
| GNo:G0185973 | ||
Australian Communications Research Network (ACoRN)$50,000
Funding Body: ARC (Australian Research Council)
| Project Team | ||
|---|---|---|
| Associate Professor Steven Weller, Professor Brett Ninness, Associate Professor Sarah Johnson | ||
| Scheme | Role | |
| Research Networks | Investigator | |
| Total Amount | Funding Start | Funding Finish |
| $50,000 | 2005 | 2009 |
| GNo:G0186088 | ||
System Identification and Diagnosis via Markov Chain Monte Carlo Methods$9,933
Funding Body: University of Newcastle
| Project Team | ||
|---|---|---|
| Professor Brett Ninness | ||
| Scheme | Role | |
| Project Grant | Chief Investigator | |
| Total Amount | Funding Start | Funding Finish |
| $9,933 | 2005 | 2005 |
| GNo:G0184665 | ||
2003 (1 grants)
Robust Control and System Identification of Highly Resonant Systems.$176,497
Funding Body: ARC (Australian Research Council)
| Project Team | ||
|---|---|---|
| Professor Reza Moheimani, Professor Brett Ninness | ||
| Scheme | Role | |
| Discovery Projects | Investigator | |
| Total Amount | Funding Start | Funding Finish |
| $176,497 | 2003 | 2005 |
| GNo:G0182060 | ||
2002 (3 grants)
New Methods for Dynamic System Estimation$360,000
Funding Body: ARC (Australian Research Council)
| Project Team | ||
|---|---|---|
| Professor Brett Ninness | ||
| Scheme | Role | |
| Discovery Projects | Chief Investigator | |
| Total Amount | Funding Start | Funding Finish |
| $360,000 | 2002 | 2005 |
| GNo:G0181106 | ||
Advanced Space-Time Coded Multiuser Wireless Communications via Test-bed Development$194,285
Funding Body: ARC (Australian Research Council)
| Project Team | ||
|---|---|---|
| Professor Brett Ninness, Associate Professor Steven Weller, Dr C Nicol, Dr L Davis | ||
| Scheme | Role | |
| Linkage Projects | Chief Investigator | |
| Total Amount | Funding Start | Funding Finish |
| $194,285 | 2002 | 2004 |
| GNo:G0181156 | ||
Advanced Space-Time Coded Multiuser Wireless Communications via Test-bed Development.$75,000
Funding Body: Lucent Technologies Australia Pty Ltd.
| Project Team | ||
|---|---|---|
| Professor Brett Ninness, Associate Professor Steven Weller, Dr C Nicol, Dr L Davis | ||
| Scheme | Role | |
| Linkage Projects Partner funding | Chief Investigator | |
| Total Amount | Funding Start | Funding Finish |
| $75,000 | 2002 | 2004 |
| GNo:G0181879 | ||
2001 (1 grants)
Development of a Space-Time coded Wireless Local Area Network$14,000
Funding Body: University of Newcastle
| Project Team | ||
|---|---|---|
| Associate Professor Steven Weller, Professor Brett Ninness | ||
| Scheme | Role | |
| Project Grant | Investigator | |
| Total Amount | Funding Start | Funding Finish |
| $14,000 | 2001 | 2001 |
| GNo:G0179970 | ||
2000 (3 grants)
Applications of Advanced Control to Materials Rolling$186,000
Funding Body: ARC (Australian Research Council)
| Project Team | ||
|---|---|---|
| Professor Brett Ninness, Professor Graham Goodwin | ||
| Scheme | Role | |
| Strategic Partnerships with Industry - Research & Training Scheme (SPIRT) | Chief Investigator | |
| Total Amount | Funding Start | Funding Finish |
| $186,000 | 2000 | 2002 |
| GNo:G0178641 | ||
Applications of Advanced Control to Materials Rolling.$60,000
Funding Body: Industrial Automation Services
| Project Team | ||
|---|---|---|
| Professor Brett Ninness | ||
| Scheme | Role | |
| SPIRT Partner funding | Chief Investigator | |
| Total Amount | Funding Start | Funding Finish |
| $60,000 | 2000 | 2002 |
| GNo:G0181570 | ||
IFAC International Symposium on System Identification.$2,400
Funding Body: University of Newcastle
| Project Team | ||
|---|---|---|
| Professor Brett Ninness | ||
| Scheme | Role | |
| Travel Grant | Chief Investigator | |
| Total Amount | Funding Start | Funding Finish |
| $2,400 | 2000 | 2000 |
| GNo:G0180265 | ||
1999 (3 grants)
System Identification of Nonlinear Dynamic Systems for Closed Loop Control Applications$176,240
Funding Body: ARC (Australian Research Council)
| Project Team | ||
|---|---|---|
| Professor Brett Ninness | ||
| Scheme | Role | |
| Large Grant | Chief Investigator | |
| Total Amount | Funding Start | Funding Finish |
| $176,240 | 1999 | 2001 |
| GNo:G0177795 | ||
Nonlinear Identification and Control via Pilot Plant Experimentation.$11,500
Funding Body: University of Newcastle
| Project Team | ||
|---|---|---|
| Professor Brett Ninness | ||
| Scheme | Role | |
| Project Grant | Chief Investigator | |
| Total Amount | Funding Start | Funding Finish |
| $11,500 | 1999 | 1999 |
| GNo:G0178097 | ||
Signature Set Design for Code-Division Multiple Access Communications.$11,000
Funding Body: University of Newcastle
| Project Team | ||
|---|---|---|
| Associate Professor Steven Weller, Professor Brett Ninness | ||
| Scheme | Role | |
| Project Grant | Investigator | |
| Total Amount | Funding Start | Funding Finish |
| $11,000 | 1999 | 1999 |
| GNo:G0178106 | ||
1998 (1 grants)
Mathematical Theory of Networks and Systems, Italy 6-10 July 1998$2,400
Funding Body: University of Newcastle
| Project Team | ||
|---|---|---|
| Professor Brett Ninness | ||
| Scheme | Role | |
| Travel Grant | Chief Investigator | |
| Total Amount | Funding Start | Funding Finish |
| $2,400 | 1998 | 1998 |
| GNo:G0180371 | ||
1996 (3 grants)
EXAMINATION OF THE USE OF ORTHONORMAL BASIS FUNCTIONS IN SYSTEM IDENTIFICATION$90,000
Funding Body: ARC (Australian Research Council)
| Project Team | ||
|---|---|---|
| Professor Brett Ninness | ||
| Scheme | Role | |
| Large Grant | Chief Investigator | |
| Total Amount | Funding Start | Funding Finish |
| $90,000 | 1996 | 1998 |
| GNo:G0175249 | ||
Development of improved methods for estimation of audio signals for applications in speech compression and recognition.$7,000
Funding Body: ARC (Australian Research Council)
| Project Team | ||
|---|---|---|
| Professor Brett Ninness, Dr Salvatore Crisafulli | ||
| Scheme | Role | |
| Small Grant | Chief Investigator | |
| Total Amount | Funding Start | Funding Finish |
| $7,000 | 1996 | 1996 |
| GNo:G0175657 | ||
International Federation of the Automatic Control World Congress - San Fransisco$2,400
Funding Body: University of Newcastle
| Project Team | ||
|---|---|---|
| Professor Brett Ninness | ||
| Scheme | Role | |
| Travel Grant | Chief Investigator | |
| Total Amount | Funding Start | Funding Finish |
| $2,400 | 1996 | 1996 |
| GNo:G0176347 | ||
1995 (1 grants)
European Control Conference (Rome) - 22-25 August 1995$2,500
Funding Body: University of Newcastle
| Project Team | ||
|---|---|---|
| Professor Brett Ninness | ||
| Scheme | Role | |
| Travel Grant | Chief Investigator | |
| Total Amount | Funding Start | Funding Finish |
| $2,500 | 1995 | 1995 |
| GNo:G0175625 | ||
1994 (3 grants)
Analysis of the Interplay between system identification and robust controller design$102,677
Funding Body: ARC (Australian Research Council)
| Project Team | ||
|---|---|---|
| Professor Brett Ninness | ||
| Scheme | Role | |
| Large Grant | Chief Investigator | |
| Total Amount | Funding Start | Funding Finish |
| $102,677 | 1994 | 1996 |
| GNo:G0175453 | ||
Speech coding and reconstruction for the purposes of arbitrary time scale modification, pitch modification and data compression.$6,000
Funding Body: University of Newcastle
| Project Team | ||
|---|---|---|
| Professor Brett Ninness | ||
| Scheme | Role | |
| Project Grant | Chief Investigator | |
| Total Amount | Funding Start | Funding Finish |
| $6,000 | 1994 | 1994 |
| GNo:G0174761 | ||
10th IFAC Symposium on system Identification & Annual Baltimore/Copenhagen American Control Conference - 29 June-1 July & 4-6 July 1994$2,500
Funding Body: University of Newcastle
| Project Team | ||
|---|---|---|
| Professor Brett Ninness | ||
| Scheme | Role | |
| Travel Grant | Chief Investigator | |
| Total Amount | Funding Start | Funding Finish |
| $2,500 | 1994 | 1994 |
| GNo:G0175109 | ||
1993 (1 grants)
'Annual IEEE Conf. on Decision & Control', San Antonio, Texas, 15 - 17 Dec 1993$2,300
Funding Body: University of Newcastle
| Project Team | ||
|---|---|---|
| Professor Brett Ninness | ||
| Scheme | Role | |
| Travel Grant | Chief Investigator | |
| Total Amount | Funding Start | Funding Finish |
| $2,300 | 1993 | 1993 |
| GNo:G0174433 | ||
1992 (1 grants)
Research On Industrial Control Projects$10,000
Funding Body: Department of Industry, Science & Resources
| Project Team | ||
|---|---|---|
| Professor Graham Goodwin, Professor Brett Ninness | ||
| Scheme | Role | |
| DIST Advanced Manufacturing Technology (Defunct) | Investigator | |
| Total Amount | Funding Start | Funding Finish |
| $10,000 | 1992 | 1992 |
| GNo:G0173426 | ||
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Research Supervision
| Number of current supervisions | 2 |
|---|---|
| Total current UoN Masters EFTSL | 0.5 |
| Total current UoN PhD EFTSL | 0.25 |
For supervisions undertaken at an institution other that the University of Newcastle, details are shown in italics, and the institution name is listed below the program name.
Current Supervision
| Commenced | Proposed Completion | Program | Supervisor Type | Research Title |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2013 | 2015 | M Philosophy(Elec Engineering) | Principal Supervisor | Computational System Identification of Complex Systems with Parallel Computing Algorithm |
| 2008 | 2009 | PhD (Computer Engineering) | Principal Supervisor | Soft Detection of Spatially Diverse Wireless Communications via Stochastic Sampling |
Past Supervision
| Year | Program | Supervisor Type | Research Title |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2013 | PhD (Computer Engineering) | Co-Supervisor | Algorithms and Hardware Implementation of a Processor for Low Complexity and High Performance Multi-Antenna Receivers |
| 2013 | PhD (Electrical Engineering) | Principal Supervisor | Computational Bayesian Methods for Communications and Control |
| 2010 | PhD (Electrical Engineering) | Co-Supervisor | Vibration and Position Control of Piezoelectric Tube Scanners for Fast Atomic Force Microscopy |
| 2009 | M Engineering (Elec & Comp)[R] | Principal Supervisor | A Reconfigurable Prototyping System for Multiple-Input Multiple-Output Communications |
| 2009 | M Engineering (Elec & Comp)[R] | Co-Supervisor | Design of Low-Density Parity-Check Codes for Multiple-Input Multiple-Output Wireless Systems |
| 2007 | PhD (Computer Engineering) | Principal Supervisor | Algorithms and Application Specific Integrated Circuits for Combinatorial Optimisation in Wireless Communications |
| 2003 | PhD (Electrical Engineering) | Sole Supervisor | Maximum Likelihood Estimation of Multivariable Dynamic Systems via the EM algorithm |
| 2002 | M Engineering (Elec & Comp)[R] | Sole Supervisor | Modern CDMA Wireless Communication Systems |
Edit
Professor Brett Ninness
| Work Phone | (02) 4921 6032 |
|---|---|
| Cell / Mobile Phone | 0438614163 |
| Fax | (02) 4921 6993 |
| Brett.Ninness@newcastle.edu.au | |
| Position | Acting Pro Vice-Chancellor Faculty of Engineering and Built Environment |
| Focus Area | Electrical and Computer Engineering |
| Office | EAG29, Engineering A, Callaghan University Drive Callaghan NSW 2308 Australia |
| URL: | www.newcastle.edu.au/profile/brett-ninness |
| Link | http://sigpromu.org/brett/index.html |
