DSL project
Group 01 is comparing three control strategies for a 1.2 kW permanent magnet synchronous machine using a back-to-back dynamometer under varying speed and load conditions.
How do the transient step response and dynamic tracking accuracy of sensorless field-oriented control compare with sensored field-oriented control and sensored trapezoidal control under varying opposing-torque loads on a 1.2 kW permanent magnet synchronous machine?
The project aims to quantify rotor-position tracking error, transient response and steady-state performance across the three control methods, and to identify the operating conditions where sensorless control departs from the sensored baseline, if any.
I am in my final-year BSc (Eng) Electrical Engineering student at the University of the Witwatersrand. I enjoy learning how electrical systems work and turning theory into solutions. My interests are mathematics, software development, high-voltage electrical systems and communications engineering. I received a Certificate of Merit for Mathematical Methods and achieved 89% for a software project in which we developed an object-oriented arcade game. I also led an electric go-kart project, helping to design and build a working prototype while contributing to the motor, drivetrain and battery-management system. This deepened my interest in motor control. I am currently investigating motor-control methods using programmable ODrive controllers and 1.2 kW motors, both on a dedicated test rig and on the go-karts. For a communications project, I designed, simulated and built a quadrifilar helix antenna that received transmissions from polar-orbiting weather satellites via an RTL-SDR. The project earned 88%. I gained industry experience developing and testing embedded software for commercial security products. I have also tutored Mathematics and Physics. These experiences improved my communication, problem-solving and teamwork skills, and taught me how much I can learn by working with other students and engineers. Outside engineering, I enjoy travelling, especially backpacking, hiking and road trips. I like discovering unfamiliar places, experiencing different cultures and taking on challenges that push me beyond my usual routine. I come from a close Lebanese family and grew up with four sisters. Living in a large family taught me patience, cooperation, resilience and the importance of supporting the people around me.
I'm a final-year Electrical Engineering student at the University of the Witwatersrand, graduating in 2027. I was ranked 3rd in the Electrical Engineering Class of 2025 and hold a cumulative average of 76.6%, with academic focus areas in control and automation, power electronics, and PCB design. My approach to engineering goes beyond understanding how a system works, and my interest lies in where the improvement is still possible. That mindset shows up consistently in my project work. I designed and developed a piezoelectric smart lock capable of recognising tap patterns through signal detection and processing, contributed to the design and testing of a passive-controlled car, and built a DigDug arcade game in C++ as part of my Software Development II module. I'm currently developing an FIA-compliant 750kW Formula One hybrid powertrain concept, combining a 400kW internal combustion engine with a 350kW electric unit, integrated battery management, and active aerodynamics. I gained hands-on industry experience during vacation work at BBE Consulting and BBE Projects, where I supported design work and fault analysis on a mining ventilation project and participated in two mine site visits alongside multidisciplinary engineering teams. Alongside my studies, I've served as a Student Mentor and Tutor with StudyTrust since January 2024, mentoring first-year engineering students and facilitating structured revision sessions in electronics, mathematics, and physics. This work was recognised with the Good Fellowship Award for leadership, kindness, and peer support. My academic achievements include Merit Scholarship Awards in 2023, 2025, and 2026, a Certificate of Merit in Electromagnetic Engineering, and a FirstRand Foundation Bursary. I'm currently exploring graduate opportunities in energy, automation, and related engineering fields, where I can combine technical depth with meaningful, real-world impact.