National Survey of Research Commercialisation - Australian ...

NATIONAL SURVEY OF RESEARCH COMMERCIALISATION
HIGH SPEED WIRELESS LOCAL AREA NETWORKING
The world standard for high-speed wireless local area networks, known as IEEE 802.11a
and 802.11g, is based on CSIRO’s US Patent 5,487,609.
In 1992, CSIRO commenced a Program for Local Area Networks and Services. Led by Dr
John O’Sullivan, who now runs Cisco’s Wireless Networking R&D group in Sydney, up to
20 staff investigated the features and system design requirements for high-speed wireless
local area networks.
CSIRO contracted Macquarie University to investigate, develop and do the detailed
design of several key elements of the system including error coding and medium access
control algorithms. In 1995 CSIRO subcontracted Macquarie University to design and
build a prototype OFDM wireless modem chipset.
When the chipset was near completion, Dr David Skellern and Dr Neil Weste, then
with Macquarie University, established Radiata Pty Ltd., which licensed CSIRO’s
Wireless LAN patent, OFDM modem design and ‘Parrot’ medium access controller
under a non-exclusive license. A number of CSIRO staff joined the company, which was
accommodated at the CSIRO Radiophysics laboratory in Marsfield, Sydney.
Radiata attracted industry funding to further develop the chipset. In November 2001,
Cisco acquired Radiata Pty Ltd for $US295 million — $A567 million in Cisco stock.
The technology, which is embedded in silicon chips, can connect users within range of
their wireless network to almost anything, from television to business information. It can
be used with almost any electronic device, from a laptop computer to a mobile phone to a
video recorder or a household security system, all without expensive cabling. It can run at
a blistering 54Mb per second, fast enough to even transmit video.
Wireless technology currently has a range of about 100 metres. In a corporate setting,
bases are set up on each floor at 100 metre distances to cover the whole office, connecting
desktop and laptop computers, security devices, handheld organisers etc to the company
network.
The high speed wireless local area networking story is one that exemplifies the sort
of results that can be achieved when CSIRO, and universities supported by the ARC,
work together on research that is crucial to Australia’s future role in the important ICT
industry.
HORTICAL
The last time you bought melons, nectarines, peaches or plums, you probably examined
them, perhaps felt them for firmness, and dropped them in the plastic bag hoping the
taste would live up to the appearance. It’s hit and miss.
Now there is a way for producers to measure the sugar content of fruit without taking
a chunk out of it, and to be able to guarantee sweetness. This is the result of a test
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