Engineering and technology
Wireless Dendrometer and Environmental Sensing System for Tree Growth Monitoring
Here's what keeps forestry researchers up at night: How do you monitor thousands of trees across vast plantations when a single commercial dendrometer costs...
Engineering and technology
The Development and Control of an Autonomous Sailboat
If you want to explore the ocean, you face two persistent problems: it’s dangerous, and it’s huge. Humans need rest, and conventional boats need fuel. Propeller...
Engineering and technology
Inaugural Lecture: Prof Arnold Rix’s Vision for Engineering a Stable, Low-Carbon Future
South Africa holds a distinct advantage in the global shift toward sustainable power: exceptional solar and wind resources. Yet, the availability of these...
Engineering and technology
Development of a Layered Electrochemical Biosensor
Tuberculosis (TB) remains one of South Africa’s toughest public health problems. Dr Stephan Schoeman, under the supervision of Professors Willie Perold and...
Engineering and technology
Investigating Probabilistic Techniques for Calculating the System Capacity in the South African Transmission Network
The Integrated Resource Plan (IRP) is a ministerial roadmap that outlines the expected national demand and a recommended mix of generation methods. It aims to...
Engineering and technology
Markerless Vision-based Localisation For Autonomous Inspection Drones
Unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) have become increasingly popular for inspection tasks due to their speed, agility, and reduced need for human intervention...
Engineering and technology
Cooperative Multi-Agent Reinforcement Learning in Sparse-Reward, Partially Observable 3D Environments
Reinforcement learning (RL) already outperforms elite players in board games and classic video games. Turning those solo successes into genuine team play is the...
Engineering and technology
Stellenbosch Engineers Join UK-Led Study to Steady South Africa’s Power Grid
Dr Chantelle van Staden, senior lecturer in Electrical and Electronic Engineering, and Professor Cristina Trois, director of the Centre for Renewable and...
Engineering and technology
Robust Place Recognition for Vision-Based SLAM Systems Using Semantic Information
Imagine driving in a new city with a sat-nav that slowly drifts off-course. Every few blocks, you’d need a landmark, say, the town hall, to reset your position...
Engineering and technology
Automated Synthesis of Array Antennas for Improved Accuracy in RF Safety Simulations Using Spherical Wave Elements
Engineers who build and operate cellular networks have to prove their sites are safe. Every mast, rooftop panel, and 5G small cell must sit far enough from...