Department of Electrical and Electronic Engineering

Research Topics ~ 2017

1. Computers and Control

 Dr Corné van Daalen Page 2
 Prof Herman Steyn Page 4
 Mr Japie Engelbrecht Page 5

2. Distributed Systems, Machine Learning, Augmented and Virtual Reality

 Prof Herman Engelbrecht Page 7

3. Electrical Energy Systems

 Dr Arnold Rix Page 8
 Prof Rong-Jie Wang Page 9

4. Electrical Machine Technology and Application

 Prof Maarten Kamper Page 10

5. Electronics and Electromagnetics

 Prof Coenrad Fourie Page 12
 Prof David Davidson Page 13
 Prof Dirk de Villiers Page 14
 Prof Matthys Botha Page 15

6. Signal Processing, Pattern Recognition and Machine Learning

 Prof Johan du Preez Page 16
 Prof Thomas Niesler Page 17
Faculty: Department:
Faculty of Engineering Electrical and Electronic Engineering

E-mail: cvdaalen@sun.ac.za

Lecturer: Dr Corné van Daalen Tel: +27 (0)21 808 4968

Office: E314

Field of Research: Computers and Control

General Description (field of research):

The Autonomous Vehicles division of the Electronic Systems Laboratory (ESL) is offering postgraduate bursaries
for master’s degree and PhD studies commencing in 2017. The ESL is an internationally respected research
facility that specialises in the control and automation of satellites, unmanned air vehicles, terrestrial robots and
autonomous underwater vehicles. Multi-year, competitive bursary awards are offered. Final year and
postgraduate students in Electrical & Electronic Engineering, Mechatronic Engineering, and Mechanical
Engineering are invited to apply. Some topics are also suitable for students who have completed Honour’s
degrees in Applied Mathematics and Computer Science.
To apply:
• Indicate your top three projects of interest and send your CV and latest academic transcript to Japie
Engelbrecht (jengelbr@sun.ac.za) and copy Dr Corné van Daalen (cvdaalen@sun.ac.za).
• The deadline for applications is 3 October 2016.

CSIR-DST Inter-Programme Postgraduate Bursaries:

• We also recommend that you apply for a CSIR-DST Inter-Programme Postgraduate Bursary in the
“Aerospace” or “Modelling and Digital Science” focus areas. The closing date for the CSIR-DST bursary
applications is 30 September 2016. It is important to note that the CSIR-DST bursary applications
are handled separately from the ESL Autonomous Vehicles bursary applications.

MEng
List of Research Topics: PhD Funding
(Research)

R90,000
1 SLAM with unknown correspondence X X per year for
2 years

R90,000
2 SLAM landmark identification using lidar measurements X X per year for
2 years

R90,000
3 Landmark-relative dense mapping using stereo vision X X per year for
2 years

R90,000
4 Detection and tracking of moving objects using stereo vision X X per year for
2 years

R90,000
Stereo-vision based visual odometry with improved outlier
5 X X per year for
detection
2 years

2
 R90,000
6 Object recognition for scene understanding X X per year for
2 years

Notes regarding Funding:

• Funding availability for these topics will depend on the quality of applications. Confirmation of these
bursaries can only be given at the end of October 2016.

Prerequisites or Requirements:
• Postgraduate bursaries associated with these topics may in some cases be restricted to South African
citizens.

3
Faculty: Department:
Faculty of Engineering Electrical and Electronic Engineering

E-mail: whsteyn@sun.ac.za

Lecturer: Prof Herman Steyn Tel: +27 (0)21 808 4926

Office: E402

Field of Research: Computers and Control

General Description (field of research):

Research into autonomous attitude and orbit control systems for small satellites, e.g.
• Investigations into the dynamics and agile attitude control of novel tri-spin solar sails.
• Investigations into novel deorbiting devices for satellites.
• Space debris removal strategies.
• Investigations into new techniques and the implementation of a combined star tracker & stellar
gyroscope sensor for the accurate estimation of the low angular rates and attitude on small satellites.

MEng
List of Research Topics: PhD Funding
(Research)

R140,000
Development of a Spinning Solar Sail and its Deployment
1 X X per year for
Mechanism.
3 years

R88,000
Development of a low cost deorbiting device for a
2 X X per year for
nanosatellite.
2 years

Stellar Gyro/Star Tracker combination with MEMS inertial R88,000

3 measurement unit as an accurate full state sensor for X per year for
nanosatellites. 2 years

R88,000
Identification and control torque compensation of solar panel
4 X per year for
magnetic moment disturbances.
2 years

Notes regarding Funding: N/A

Prerequisites or Requirements: N/A

4
Faculty: Department:
Faculty of Engineering Electrical and Electronic Engineering

E-mail: jengelbr@sun.ac.za

Lecturer: Mr Japie Engelbrecht Tel: +27 (0)21 808 4334

Office: E306

Field of Research: Computers and Control

General Description (field of research):

The Autonomous Vehicles division of the Electronic Systems Laboratory (ESL) is offering postgraduate bursaries
for master’s degree and PhD studies commencing in 2017. The ESL is an internationally respected research
facility that specialises in the control and automation of satellites, unmanned air vehicles, terrestrial robots and
autonomous underwater vehicles. Multi-year, competitive bursary awards are offered. Final year and
postgraduate students in Electrical & Electronic Engineering, Mechatronic Engineering, and Mechanical
Engineering are invited to apply. Some topics are also suitable for students who have completed Honour’s
degrees in Applied Mathematics and Computer Science.
To apply:
• Indicate your top three projects of interest and send your CV and latest academic transcript to Japie
Engelbrecht (jengelbr@sun.ac.za) and copy Dr Corné van Daalen (cvdaalen@sun.ac.za).
• The deadline for applications is 3 October 2016.

CSIR-DST Inter-Programme Postgraduate Bursaries:

• We also recommend that you apply for a CSIR-DST Inter-Programme Postgraduate Bursary in the
“Aerospace” or “Modelling and Digital Science” focus areas. The closing date for the CSIR-DST bursary
applications is 30 September 2016. It is important to note that the CSIR-DST bursary applications
are handled separately from the ESL Autonomous Vehicles bursary applications.

MEng
List of Research Topics: PhD Funding
(Research)

R90,000
1 Slow Stall and Underspeed Prediction for Passenger Airliners X X per year for
2 years

R90,000
Detection of Oscillatory Actuator Failures in Passenger per year for
2 X X
Airliners 2 years

R90,000
Inspection Drone: Accurate Vision-Based Relative Position
3 X X per year for
Sensing for a Quadrotor UAV
2 years

R90,000
4 Inspection Drone: Hull-Relative Image Mapping and Stitching X X per year for
2 years

R90,000
Flight Control and Hardware-in-the-Loop Simulation of an
5 X per year for
Unmanned Aircraft using Open-Source Autopilot Hardware
2 years

5
 R90,000
Flight Control and Hardware-in-the-Loop Simulation of an
6 X per year for
Unmanned Aircraft using Open-Source Autopilot Hardware
2 years

Notes regarding Funding:

• Funding for Research Topics 1 and 2 has been secured from Airbus.
• Funding availability for Research Topics 3 to 6 will depend on the quality of applications. Confirmation
of these bursaries can only be given at the end of October 2016.

Prerequisites or Requirements:
• Postgraduate bursaries associated with these topics may in some cases be restricted to South African
citizens.

6
Faculty:
Department:
Faculty of Engineering
Electrical and Electronic Engineering

E-mail: hebrecht@sun.ac.za

Lecturer: Dr Herman Engelbrecht Tel: +27 (0)21 808 2139

Office: E408

Field of Research: Distributed systems, machine learning, augmented and virtual reality

General Description (field of research):

My primary research field is cloud computing systems and network support for massive multi-user virtual
environments (MMVEs). We are developing a research platform to allow 10,000 or more simultaneous users to
participate in a single, contiguous virtual environment. Currently we are using a networked cluster of 70
Raspberry PIs to form private cloud computing infrastracture that grants us complete control over the
experimental conditions. Some of the novel challenges I seek to address is the dynamic load balancing of a
single, contiguous virtual environment that is distributed across a server cluster as well as distributed storage
of the virtual environment elements. The research into MMVEs also extends into interfaces for augmented and
virtual reality. For example in 2015 we collaborated with an international team of artists and scientists to
produce The Third Life Project - a virtual reality based art production at the WUK theatre in the city of Vienna.
The production blurred the line between the real world and the virtual world by allowing virtual characters to
perform activities in the real world while actions of performers in the real world enables changes in the virtual
world. My secondary research field is novel applications of machine learning. I have done extensive research
into automatic speech recognition and translation systems. More recently my students have applied machine
learning to such topics as the prediction of the network and processing load on cloud computing infrastructure
as well as the automatic detection of upset detection of passenger aircraft.

MEng
List of Research Topics: PhD Funding
(Research)

Refer to the
1 Spatial partitioning for Contiguous Virtual Environments. X notes below

Refer to the
2 Dynamic load balancing of MMVE server cluster. X notes below

Refer to the
Comparison of Distributed storage vs centralised storage for
3 X notes below
persistence of MMVEs.
Refer to the
Development of a virtual reality user interface implementing
4 X notes below
redirected walking.
Refer to the
5 Augmented reality interface using tablets: X notes below

Refer to the
6 Network coding based server interest management. X notes below

Notes regarding Funding:

• At this stage any possible funding opportunities cannot be confirmed.

7
Faculty:
Department:
Faculty of Engineering
Electrical and Electronic Engineering

E-mail: rix@sun.ac.za

Lecturer: Dr Arnold Rix Tel: +27 (0)21 808 3623

Office: E304

Field of Research: Electrical Energy Systems

General Description (field of research):

General area of research is photovoltaic systems.

MEng
List of Research Topics: PhD Funding
(Research)

R100,000
Investigate PV module failure mechanisms during nearby
per year for
1 lightning strikes and propose possible mitigation measures. X
2 years

The development of an in-line I-V curve tracer and the

R100,000
methodology of use that is specifically geared towards soiled
per year for
2 PV installations (How should the measured data be X
2 years
interpreted).

Solar PV module mismatch characterisation, the influence of

R100,000
mismatch on system performance and mitigation measures
3 X per year for
specifically looking at the influence of long term operation and
2 years
maintenance.

The investigation of the measured low-light performance of PV R100,000

4 modules (including bi-facial modules) vs. the currently used X per year for
equivalent simulation models. 2 years

The development of transposition and decomposition models

5 X NO
for accurate PV yield modelling in South Africa.

Notes regarding Funding: N/A

Prerequisites or Requirements: N/A

8
Faculty:
Department:
Faculty of Engineering
Electrical and Electronic Engineering

E-mail: rwang@sun.ac.za

Lecturer: Prof Rong-Jie Wang Tel: +27 (0)21 808 4335

Office: E315

Field of Research: Electrical Energy Systems

General Description (field of research):

My research interests are special electrical machines, novel topologies of permanent magnet machines,
computer-aided design of electrical machines, finite element methods, optimization methodologies, cooling
design and analysis, renewable energy systems. Recently, my work has been focusing on magnetic gear and
magnetically geared electrical machine technologies.

MEng
List of Research Topics: PhD Funding
(Research)
High performance electrical motor for heavy traction Refer to the
1 application: design and evaluation X notes below

Development and experimental evaluation of an advanced Refer to the

2 X
core loss model for electrical machines notes below

Notes regarding Funding:

• Bursaries may be available for these projects, but cannot be confirmed at this stage.

Prerequisites or Requirements: N/A

9
Faculty:
Department:
Faculty of Engineering
Electrical and Electronic Engineering

E-mail: kamper@sun.ac.za

Lecturer: Prof Maarten J. Kamper Tel: +27 (0)21 808 4323

Office: E409

Field of Research: Electrical Machine Technology and Application

General Description (field of research):

The research focuses in general on conventional and new electrical machine technology for industry, electrical
vehicles and renewable energy applications. Currently the focus is almost completely on wind energy systems,
but there are also some research projects that focus on industry applications such as direct-on-line fan motors.
In wind energy, innovative wind generator drive-train technologies and grid integration are considered. The
focus is more on small-scale wind energy systems for utility grid connection or for stand-alone battery charging
or for remote mini-grid connection. In general the research includes the design optimisation of the electrical
machine systems to improve performance and lowering cost and to evaluate alternative technology. The
building and the laboratory and field testing of these machine systems form an important part of the research.

MEng
List of Research Topics: PhD Funding
(Research)

Analysis of Induction Machines with Non-overlap Stator and Refer to the

1 Rotor Coils. X X notes below

Design Optimization of Wound Rotor Synchronous Wind Refer to the

2 Generator with Non-overlap Stator and Rotor Coils. X X notes below

Analytical Models, Design Optimization and Comparison of

Refer to the
Eddy-Current and Iron-Cored-Non-Overlap-Winding PM Slip
3 X notes below
Couplers.

Analysis and Design Optimization of a Grid-Code-Compliant

Refer to the
4 Integrated Slip-Synchronous Geared Wind Generator. X X
notes below
Non-Overlap Winding PM Wind Generator Technology for Refer to the
5 X
Small-Scale Battery Charging Wind Energy Systems. notes below

Support of Diesel Hybrid Mini-Grids with Slip-Synchronous Refer to the

6 X
Generator Fixed-pitch Wind Turbines. notes below

Cage Winding Design of Line-start Induction Motors for Refer to the

7 X
Geared Fan Loads. notes below

Notes regarding Funding:

• Research Topic # 1 = Master’s student @ R100,000 (funding is not yet finalised)
• Research Topic # 1 = PhD student @ R150,000 (funding is not yet finalised)
• Research Topic # 2 = already booked (Master’s & PhD)
• Research Topic # 3 = already booked (PhD)
• Research Topic # 4 = Master’s student @ R100,000 (funding is not yet finalised)
• Research Topic # 4 = PhD student @ R150,000 (funding is not yet finalised)

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 • Research Topic # 5 = Master’s student @ R100,000 (funding is not yet finalised)
• Research Topic # 5 = Master’s student @ R100,000 (funding is not yet finalised)
• Research Topic # 6 = Master’s student @ R100,000 (funding is not yet finalised)
• Research Topic # 7 = Master’s student @ R100,000 (funding is not yet finalised)

Prerequisites or Requirements: N/A

11
Faculty: Department:
Faculty of Engineering Electrical and Electronic Engineering

E-mail: coenrad@sun.ac.za

Tel: +27 (0)21 808 4029

Lecturer: Prof Coenrad Fourie
Office: E416

Field of Research: Electronics and Electromagnetics

General Description (field of research):

My research group focuses on developing computational methods and the development of software modules
with which engineers and physicists can design circuits in beyond-CMOS technologies; specifically
superconducting electronics, adiabatic circuits and quantum electronics. We research hardware description
language models, behavioral-to-logic synthesizers, automated place-and-route tools, ultra-fast simulators for
circuits with millions of components, layout extraction and verification tools, inductance and capacitance
extraction from complicated networks, magnetic field analysis, flux trapping prevention, magnetic shielding
methods, and more! We also develop superconducting integrated circuits, such as superconducting FPGAs and
RISC processors.

MEng
List of Research Topics: PhD Funding
(Research)

Research computational electromagnetics methods, and

develop a tool that calculates bias current distribution and R250,000
1 ground plane return currents in large, complex integrated X per year
circuits.

Develop a fast and flexible IDE (Integrated Design

R175,000
2 Environment) that allows all the software modules developed X
per year
by our group to plug into a Graphical User Interface.

Develop parameterized cell libraries for superconducting

R175,000
3 RSFQ/ERSFQ logic families from currently-existing cell X
per year
schematics and netlists.

Develop a superconducting FPGA, complete with programming R120,000

4 X
sublayer. per year

Research the thermal characteristics of cryogenic materials at

the micrometer to millimeter scale, and develop computational
R140,000
5 methods with which to calculate the temperature in discretized X
per year
models of superconducting or quantum electronic integrated
circuits.

Notes regarding Funding: N/A

Prerequisites or Requirements: N/A

12
Faculty:
Department:
Faculty of Engineering
Electrical and Electronic Engineering

E-mail: skasarchi@sun.ac.za

Lecturer: Prof David Davidson Tel: +27 (0)21 808 4936

Office: E314

Field of Research: Electronics and Electromagnetics

General Description (field of research):

The South African Chair in Square Kilometre Array (SKA) Electromagnetic Engineering is presently held by Prof
David Davidson. It focusses on work on the electronic engineering aspects of radio telescopes, and in
particular the South African MeerKAT and the international SKA telescopes. It is hosted by the Department of
Electrical and Electronic Engineering at Stellenbosch University. Please refer to the following website:
https://sites.google.com/site/saskaresearchchairstellenbosch

MEng
List of Research Topics: PhD Funding
(Research)

R105,000
Integrating a digital back end with, and commissioning of, an
1 SKA mid-frequency aperture array tile. X
per year

Co-use of the SKA mid-frequency aperture array for other R105,000

scientific applications (eg passive radar for locating space
2 X
junk) per year

Notes regarding Funding:

• Please note that, in addition to the R105,000 per year, there is also an equipment grant and possible
travel funds available.

Prerequisites or Requirements: N/A

13
Faculty:
Department:
Faculty of Engineering
Electrical and Electronic Engineering

E-mail: ddv@sun.ac.za

Lecturer: Prof Dirk de Villiers Tel: +27 (0)21 808 4011

Office: E407

Field of Research: Electronics and Electromagnetics

General Description (field of research):

My research revolves around developing methods for the rapid design of antennas and microwave
components. Specific applications include the design of reflector surfaces and wideband feeds for the MeerKAT
and SKA radio telescopes, antenna array systems for radar and space communication systems, as well as
power combiners for solid state amplifier and antenna array systems. These design problems are normally
difficult to solve since they are high dimensional, non-linear and typically slow to evaluate (through computer
simulations). We therefore use several methods from the surrogate modelling, interpolation, and optimization
fields to find optimal designs for high performance high frequency antenna and microwave structures.
Currently I am collaborating with researchers from Pretoria University, Chalmers University of Technology in
Sweden, Antwerp and Gent Universities in Belgium, and Reykjavik University in Iceland. Research topics are
available in radio telescope antenna system design (through the South African SKA project), reflector antennas
for space communication systems, array antennas for electronic warfare systems, as well as general antenna
design and modelling.

MEng
List of Research Topics: PhD Funding
(Research)

Refer to the
1 Wideband antenna design for the SKA. X X notes below

Refer to the
Design methods for aperture arrays in radio telescope
2 X X notes below
applications.
Refer to the
3 Design of focal plane arrays for communication systems. X notes below

Refer to the
4 Low profile and wideband array antennas for EW. X notes below

Surrogate based design of planar radial arrays for mm-wave Refer to the
5 applications. X notes below

Notes regarding Funding:

• Research Topics 1 & 2 = R80,000 per year (competitive bursaries from the SKA Research Chair in
Electromagnetics might be available, but funding is not yet finalised and depends on the number and
quality of applications in the group)
• Research Topics 3 & 4 & 5 = R80,000 – R100,000 per year (industrial bursaries might be available, but
funding is not yet finalised)
• Not all topics will necessarily be offered.

14
Faculty:
Department:
Faculty of Engineering
Electrical and Electronic Engineering

E-mail: mmbotha@sun.ac.za

Lecturer: Prof Matthys Botha Tel: +27 (0)21 808 4936

Office: E414

Field of Research: Electronics and Electromagnetics

General Description (field of research):

My students and I work in the field of computational electromagnetics. We develop numerical methods to
model electromagnetic fields for specific engineering applications. This work brings together knowlege of
applied mathematics, computer programming and electromagnetic field theory. Have a look at my recent
publications for further information (Matthys M. Botha) or come by my office to learn more (E414).

MEng
List of Research Topics: PhD Funding
(Research)
Large-scale electromagnetic scattering analysis for radar cross Refer to the
1 section and antenna placement applications X X notes below

Efficient electromagnetic simulation of large antenna arrays Refer to the

2 X X
for radio astronomy and radar applications notes below

Notes regarding Funding:

• Bursary funds are likely available, but this can only be confirmed once I have candidates that I can
recommend.

Prerequisites or Requirements: N/A

15
Faculty:
Department:
Faculty of Engineering
Electrical and Electronic Engineering

E-mail: dupreez@sun.ac.za

Lecturer: Prof Johan du Preez Tel: +27 (0)21 808 4936

Office: E307

Field of Research: Signal Processing and Machine Learning

General Description (field of research):

I am in particular interested in the use of probabilistic graphical models as computational machines to solve
problems in the domains of image processing, spatial mapping and tracking, analysis of market signals,
analysis of textual and internet documents for the automatic determination of topics, sentiments, internet
recommendation strategies, etc.

MEng
List of Research Topics: PhD Funding
(Research)

Particular topics are usually determined by merging the

Refer to the
1 interests of the lucky student with those of the funding X X
notes below
industry partner.

Notes regarding Funding:

• There might be possible funding opportunities, but it cannot be confirmed at this stage.

Prerequisites or Requirements: N/A

16
Faculty:
Department:
Faculty of Engineering
Electrical and Electronic Engineering

E-mail: dkruger@sun.ac.za

Lecturer: Prof Thomas Niesler Tel: +27 (0)21 808 4936

Office: E317

Field of Research: Signal Processing, Pattern Recognition and Machine Learning

General Description (field of research):

Signal processing deals with the measurement and conditioning of information, often from sensors, with a view
of subsequent extraction of information and further processing. Pattern recognition deals with the (usually
statistical) modelling of information extracted by a prior signal processing step, with a view of making
automatic decisions based on the measured data. Machine learning broadly describes the algorithms used to
infer (train) suitable models to be used in the pattern recognition step. The projects below each focus on a
particular aspect of this very wide field.

MEng
List of Research Topics: PhD Funding
(Research)

Refer to the
1 Acoustic classification and identification of marine mammals. X notes below

Refer to the
2 Development of sensors for vineyard monitoring. X notes below

Refer to the
3 Automatic classification of cough sounds. X notes below

Notes regarding Funding:

• Funding may be available for these projects, but cannot be confirmed at this stage.

Prerequisites or Requirements: These projects are only available to South African citizens.

17