RESEARCH NICHE AREAS
The primary focus of F’SATI is in the building of human capacity. This is achieved through a
research strategy that interfaces the theoretical with the technological aspects and through
connecting a variety of stakeholders such as industry and academia, both locally and
internationally. From this research strategy, a range of research domains are defined.
At TUT, an approach of focusing research resources into carefully selected research and
innovation (R&I) focus and niche areas has been adopted. F’SATI currently operates within
these defined niche areas in collaboration with various departments and faculties. The objective
of the focus areas has been designed in such a way that they bring resources and a critical
mass of people together around a central theme to provide a platform for the full spectrum of
R&I activities. F’SATI at TUT and CPUT currently focuses on the following research domains:
THE ENABLED ENVIRONMENT AND HANDICAP (F’SATI/DEE, TUT)
Contact Person: Prof. Y Hamam, [email protected]
This niche area covers several domains
related to control and enabling technologies.
The main domain is the enabled environment
and assistance to handicap. This is a multidisciplinary field that include domains such as
traditional Control, Image Processing,
Mechatronics, Mathematical Modelling, and
Optimisation Theory and applications. A
major project undertaken within this domain is
the development of a Wheelchair virtual
reality platform.
TELECOMMUNICATIONS (F’SATI/DEE, TUT)
Contact Person: Dr. AM Kurien, [email protected]
The focus of the research niche in Telecommunications is to
promote research and development in the fields of both
computer science and telecommunication. The Niche Area
considers theoretical aspects of wireless communications
systems as well practical optimisation problems that are
common in modern wireless communication standards. The
current projects include MIMO Access Point for High Data Rate
Applications (Telkom Center of Excellence funded by Telkom
SA, Molapo Technology, Alcatel-Lucent and THRIP), Smart
Radio Technology in Next Generation Wireless Networks for
Rural Broadband Internet Access (collaboration with the
University of Santa Barbara, California, University of
Johannesburg, and the CSIR), Radio Resource Management
and Optimisation for Fixed/Mobile Wireless Networks.
ENERGY AND INDUSTRIAL POWER SYSTEMS (DEE/F’SATI, TUT)
Contact Person: Prof. AA Jimoh, [email protected]
The economic well-being of a nation depends
on many factors: key amongst these are the
presence of sustainable source of
inexpensive environmentally friendly energy,
availability of robust and reliable electric
power
supply
systems,
and
the
competitiveness and effective productivity of
the industries. Putting these in place and
continuing to maintain them require the right
calibre of competent manpower, as well as
being in the front end of knowledge,
innovation, research and development in the
related scientific and technological fields.
This niche area focuses at researching new ideas, making original contributions, and
technological innovations in the field of Energy, Power Engineering and Industrial Systems. The
Niche Area focus is directed to the issue of power electronics, Power and distribution systems,
electric motors and drives, renewable energies, coal technology, biodiesel technology, energy
efficient buildings and smart and intelligent buildings.
TUT currently hosts the Centre for Energy and Electric Power (CEEP), which is one of the
Centres, Institutes, Technology Stations and Incubators (CITSIs) at TUT within the Faculty of
Engineering and the Built Environment. The Centre provides support for Research and
Supervision with the domain of Sustainable Energy Systems, Energy Conversion and
Integration Technologies, and Downstream Impacts of Renewable Energy (on Power Systems).
SPACE TECHNOLOGIES (F’SATI, CPUT)
Contact Person: Prof. R van Zyl, [email protected]
The South African Government has identified Space
Science and Technology as one of five Grand
Challenges in the 10-Year Innovation Plan of the
Department of Science and Technology. This
vision has culminated in the recent establishment
of the South African Space Agency (SANSA).
In 2009, the French South African Institute of
Technology (F’SATI) initiated a postgraduate
programme in Satellite Systems Engineering at the
Cape Peninsula University of Technology (CPUT)
to address the human capacity development (HCD)
required in support of the national space industry.
The focus of this niche is on the development of
satellite systems and technologies. The Satellite
Systems Engineering training and research
programme at CPUT consists of actual CubeSat
development, and the supporting academic
programme.