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Research

At EIE we conduct research in a variety of fields, broadly defined by the research and interest groups on this page. We also house or have strong ties to several institutes, centres and research laboratories at the university, listed below.

We are committed to research excellence and we strive to contribute to new technologies that will shape the future. Much of our research is undertaken by our postgraduate students who subsequently use their higher degrees and our excellent reputation to go on to lead successful careers in industry both locally and internationally, found startup companies or continue on an academic path. 

Research Groupings

Bridging the Digital Divide Fibre without the fibre at the Wits Optical Communication Lab.
PeCo Power PeCo grids herald a new era in addressing electrification in the absence of classical grid services.
Movement Disorder Studies Using Artificial Intelligence, we're determining movement disorders and tremor severity from scanned hand drawn spirals.
Prosthetic Arm We have built a variety of technologies around interfacing with devices for disabled people and for our general interactions with computers.
Systems and Control

The activities of the group range from classical control to modern linear and non-linear control. All aspects of systems and signals namely, modelling, synthesis, control analysis and design pertaining to linear and non-linear, time-invariant as well as time varying systems and signals form part of the focus.

Staff Research Interests
Prof Anton Van Wyk

Non-linear control
Modelling
Dr Otis Nyandoro 

Real-time scheduling systems
Control scheduling co-design
Anti-lock braking systems 
Dr Mohlalakoma Ngwako

Control
Electric Power

The Electric Power Research Group (EPRG) is an on-going and well-established programme in the School of Electrical & Information whose mission is to contribute expert knowledge and skills in the fields of high voltage, lightning/EMC, computational electromagnetics and power system engineering. It aims to establish a sound base in research and teaching in the various associated disciplines and is committed to being a world key player in contributing expert knowledge. It views research and teaching in these disciplines as a critical ingredient to economic growth as well social well-being of the region.

Staff Research Interests 
Prof Ken Nixon
 Lightning safety; High Voltage engineering; Programming and Data Sciences
Prof John Van Coller
 High voltage, Power electronics, Power systems, Renewable energy, Power system economics, Lightning, EMC
Prof Cuthbert Nyamupangedengu 
 Partial discharges, HV insulation diagnosis, Power cables, Engineering design, Engineering education
Prof Alan Clark
 Electromagnetic analysis, Computer codes, Antenna design for the professional market 
Dr Nicholas West
 High Voltage Engineering, Gas breakdown, Laser-induced breakdown, Lightning, Engineering Education
Dr Hugh Hunt
 Lightning Detection and Measurement; Lightning Protection and safety; High Voltage Engineering
Dr Carina Schumann
 Lightning Physics and Characterisation; High speed imaging; Lightning Safety and Awareness
Future Electrical Energy Technology (FEET)

This group researches systems and technologies that ensure adequate secure supply of clean electrical energy into the future. Access to energy, in conjunction with access to water is one of the biggest drivers of quality of life. Given the current environmental impact issues of traditional fossil fuel based energy, expanding access to energy in this direction is not an option.

 
Staff  Research Interests 
Prof Willie Cronje
 Pico-grids, solar energy 
Prof Cuthbert Nyamupangedengu 

Partial discharges, HV insulation diagnosis, power cables, engineering design, engineering education
Prof Dave Dorrell

Electrical machines, renewable energy, power systems
Mr James Braid

Machine design, wind energy research
Prof Ivan Hofsajer

Power electronics, electromagnetic compatibility, engineering electromagnetics, signal integrity, integrated electronics
Prof Lesedi Masisi

Electrification of transportation, electric motor drives, electric machine modeling (control and testing), energy storage, energy efficiency and renewable energy
Dr Yu-Chieh (Jessie) Yen

Demand-side management, load modelling, energy efficiency, thermal storage, sustainability and renewables
Software Engineering and Data Intensive Computing (SEDIC)

The Software Engineering and Data Intensive Computing (SEDIC) Research Group has a number of current research interests including: software development methodologies, smart grids, big data and bioinformatics.

Staff  Research Interests 
Dr Stephen Levitt
 Software Engineering, Domain Modelling, Software Testing
Prof Scott Hazelhurst 
 Bioinformatics, High Performance Computing, Data Structures and Algorithms 
Centre for Telecommunications Access and Services (CeTAS)

The Center for Telecommunications Access and Services (CeTAS) has a long legacy of research in a variety of telecom related fields.

The Wits University Center of Excellence, established in 1997 under the leadership of Prof Hu Hanrahan, defined its focus as "Telecommunications Access and Services". It was initially supported financially by Telkom, Vodacom, Nokia-Siemens, Telsaf Data and the DTI (via the THRIP programme). 

Over the last two and a half decades CeTAS has achieved an excellent research publication record and has educated a significant number of students who have gone on to fill key positions in the South African and African telecommunications industry.

Staff  Research Interests 
Prof Ling Cheng
 Internet of Things for Smart Cities, Visible light communications, Power-line communications, Network information theory,Heuristic algorithm in Artificial Intelligence, Pattern recognition, Insertion/deletion error correction, Single machine scheduling
Prof Olutayo Oyerinde
 Signal processing in 5G and beyond 5G wireless communications networks, Massive MIMO, NOMA, mm Wave Massive MIMO, channel estimation techniques, multiuser detection techniques, beamforming, pre-coding; applications of compressive sensing algorithms
Prof Jules Moualeu
 Wirless communications, channel modelling 
Prof Mitchell Cox
 Optical Communications, Free Space (Wireless) Optics, Mode Division Multiplexing, Bridging the Digital Divide, Optical AI
Dr Chabalala Chabalala
 Next-generation wireless networks, Massive machine-type communications, Cognitive radio networks, NOMA, Radio resource management in 5G, Performance modeling and analysis of wireless communication systems.
Dr Shamin Achari
 Visible Light Communications, Coding
Emeritus Prof Fambirai Takawira
 Adaptive signal processing, Digital communications, Data networks
   
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