Keynote Presentation
Laureate Professor Robin Evans
FAA FTSE Life Fellow IEEE, FIE(Aust)
The University of Melbourne
Topic: RADAR-An Endless Frontier
In 1945, Vannevar Bush authored a highly influential report titled Science—The Endless Frontier, which charted a course for the United States to achieve remarkable advancements in science and technology that continue to shape the world today. I have borrowed the title of Bush’s report to illustrate the extraordinary journey from the simple idea of electromagnetic wave reflections by Maxwell and Hertz, and Hulsmeyer’s 1904 patent, to the technological marvel of modern RADAR.
In this talk, I will explore the key ideas behind many of the most significant scientific and engineering achievements driven by the relentless quest to expand the technical capabilities and application domains of RADAR. I will discuss critical advancements in areas such as waveform design, antenna design, detection and estimation, clutter processing, high-power RF electronics, high-speed digital electronics, signal and information processing, tracking, imaging, and multi-radar networks. Additionally, I will highlight emerging directions in integrated radar-communications and wideband systems.
Bio:
Robin Evans was born in Melbourne, Australia, in 1947. He earned a BE degree in Electrical Engineering from the University of Melbourne in 1969 before serving as a radar systems engineering officer with the Royal Australian Air Force. In 1975, he completed a PhD at the University of Newcastle, followed by postdoctoral research at the Laboratory for Information and Decision Systems at MIT, USA, and the Control and Management Department at Cambridge University, UK.
In 1977, he began his academic career at the University of Newcastle. In 1992, he joined the University of Melbourne, where he has held numerous leadership roles and contributed to various national and international bodies over the past 45 years. Throughout this time, he has maintained extensive involvement with industry. He currently serves as a Laureate Professor at the University of Melbourne.
His research and industry engagements span a broad range of areas, including control systems, industrial electronics, radar systems, signal processing, and telecommunications. He is a Fellow of the Australian Academy of Science, a Fellow of the Australian Academy of Technological Sciences and Engineering, a Life Fellow of IEEE, and a Fellow of Engineers Australia.