Five research directions

Smart energy and access

This direction examines energy systems where reliability, affordability and access are part of the engineering question. Work should define the users or system boundary, the available evidence and a meaningful technical baseline.

Optical wireless communications

This direction studies visible-light and other optical wireless links through defined channels, coding methods and performance measures. A project should identify the communication function and the comparison that will make the result interpretable.

Smart systems and digital twins

This direction considers connected engineering systems, sensing and models used for prediction or decision support. A digital twin must have a clear physical or simulated system, data relationship and purpose beyond visualisation.

AI-assisted engineering

This direction evaluates where artificial intelligence can support an engineering method or decision. Projects must state the human role, evidence, benchmark and limits of any claim about useful or autonomous behaviour.

Engineering education, access and technology transfer

This direction studies engineering learning, barriers to participation and routes from research insight to practical use. Work should identify who experiences the problem, what can be measured and which decision the evidence is intended to improve.

People

Current institutional roles were last checked on 29 August 2026.

Prof. Ling Cheng

Professor in the Wits School of Electrical & Information Engineering.

Dr Shamin Achari

Senior Lecturer in the Wits School of Electrical & Information Engineering.

Mohammed Raees Dangor

Associate Lecturer in the Wits School of Electrical & Information Engineering.