Radio frequency interference (RFI) poses significant challenges for passive microwave radiometry used in climate studies and Earth science. Despite operating in protected frequency bands, microwave radiometers often encounter RFI from sources like air surveillance radars, 5G communications, and unmanned aerial vehicles. Traditional RFI detection methods rely on handcrafted algorithms designed for specific RFI types. This study proposes a deep learning (DL) approach, leveraging convolutional neural networks to detect various RFI types on a global scale. By learning directly from radiometer data, this data-driven method enhances detection accuracy and generalization. The DL framework processes raw moment data and Stokes parameters, dynamically labeled using quality flags, offering a robust and efficient solution for RFI detection. This approach demonstrates the potential for improved RFI mitigation in passive remote sensing applications.

Thesis (PhD)--University of Stellenbosch, 2011. / ENGLISH ABSTRACT: The Square Kilometre Array (SKA) and its demonstrator MeerKAT are being designed to operate over a wide frequency range and are expected to achieve greater sensitivity and resolution than existing telescopes. The radio astronomy community is well aware of the negative impact that radio frequency interference (RFI) has on observations in the proposed frequency band. This is because weak radio signals such as those from pulsars and distant galaxies are difficult to detect on their own. The presence of RFI sources in the telescope’s operating area can severely corrupt observation data, leading to inaccurate or misleading results. Power-line interference and radiation from electric fences are examples of RFI sources. Mitigation techniques for these interference sources in the SKA system’s electromagnetic environment are essential to ensure the success of this project. These techniques can be achieved with appropriate understanding of the characteristics of the noise sources. Overhead power-line interference is known to be caused mainly by corona and gap-type (commonly known as sparking noise) discharges. Sparking noise is the dominant interference for the SKA. It is mainly encountered on wooden pole lines, which are usually distribution lines operated at up to 66 kV AC in the South African network. At this voltage level, the voltage gradients on the lines are insufficient to generate conductor corona. The power requirements for SKA precursors will be below this voltage level. The aim of the research in this dissertation is to evaluate the power line sparking characteristics through measurements and simulation of line radiation and propagation characteristics. An artificially made sparking noise generator, which is mounted on a power line, is used as noise source and the radiation characteristics are measured. Measurements were carried out in different environments, which included a high-voltage laboratory (HV-Lab), a 40m test-line, and another 22-kV test line of approximately 1.5 km. The key sparking noise parameters of interest were the temporal and spectral characteristics. The time domain features considered were the pulse shape and the repetition rate. The lateral, longitudinal and height attenuation profiles were also quantified. Since sparking noise current pulses are injected or induced onto power line conductors, the line will act as an unintentional antenna. The far-field radiation characteristics of the line were evaluated through measurements on physical scale-model structures and simulations. 1/120th and 1/200th scaled lines, using an absorbing material and metallic ground planes, respectively, were simulated in FEKO. The measurements of the constructed scale models were taken in the anechoic chamber. Both measurements and simulations showed that the line exhibits an end-fire antenna pattern mode. Line length, pulse injection point and line configuration were some of the parameters found to affect the radiation patterns. The findings from this study are used to determine techniques to identify the sparking noise, and locate and correct the sources when they occur on the line hardware. Appropriate equipment is recommended to be used for the location and correction of sparking noise. / AFRIKAANSE OPSOMMING: Die Vierkante Kilometer Reeks (SKA) en sy demonstrasie projek, die Karoo Reeks Teleskoop (KAT), word ontwerp om oor 'n wye frekwensie-bereik te funksioneer. Beide sal na verwagting beter sensitiwiteit en resolusie as bestaande radioteleskope he. Die radio-astronomie-gemeenskap is deeglik bewus van die negatiewe impak wat radio-frekwensie steurnisse (RFS) op waarnemings in die voorgestelde frekwensieband het. Die rede hiervoor is dat swak radio-seine soos die van pulsars en verafgelee sterrestelsels inherent moeilik is om te bepaal. Die teenwoordigheid van RFS bronne in die teleskoop se onmiddellike operasionele gebied kan waarnemings nadelig beinvloed. Dit lei uiteindelik tot onakkurate of misleidende resultate. Kraglyne en uitstralings van elektriese heinings is voorbeelde van RFS bronne. Metodes om die oorsake van die steurnisse van die SKA se elektromagnetiese omgewing te verminder is noodsaaklik om die sukses van hierdie projekt te verseker. Dit vereis egter deeglike begrip van die eienskappe van hierdie bronne. Steurnisse as gevolg van oorhoofse kraglyne word hoofsaaklik veroorsaak deur korona en gapingtipe ontladings (algemeen bekend as vonkontladings). Vonkontladings word hier beskou as die belangrikste oorsaak van steurnisse vir die SKA. Dit word in die Suid-Afrikaanse netwerk hoofsaaklik aangetref op houtpaal-installasies, wat gewoonlik bestaan uit distribusie lyne wat tot en met 66 kV wisselstroom (WS) bedryf word. By hierdie operasionele spanning is die spanningsgradient op die lyn onvoldoende om korona op te wek. Die kragvereistes vir die SKA se voorafgaande projekte sal sodanig wees dat hierdie spanningsvlak nie oorskry sal word nie. Die doel van die navorsing omskryf in hierdie proefskrif is om die eienskappe van vonkontladings rondom kraglyne te evalueer. Dit word gedoen met behulp van metings en simulasies van uitstralings- en voortplantingspatrone wat met 'n spesifieke lyn geassosieer kan word. 'n Kunsmatige vonkontladingsopwekker word op 'n kraglyn geplaas en dien as bron om die uitstralingspatrone te meet. Metings is uitgevoer in verskillende omgewings, insluitende 'n hoogspanningslaboratorium (HV-Lab), 'n 40 m toetslyn en 'n 22 kV WS toetslyn van ongeveer 1.5 km lank. Die hoof vonkontladings eienskappe van belang is die temporale en spektrale eienskappe. Die tydgebiedeienskappe wat ondersoek is, is die pulsvorm asook die pulsherhalingskoers. Die laterale, longitudinale en hoogte-attenuasie profiele word ook gekwantifiseer. Aangesien stroompulse deur vonkontladings op die kraglyn geplaas of geinduseer word, sal die lyn as 'n ongewenste antenna optree. Die ver-veld uitstralingskenmerke van die lyn is ook geëvalueer deur gebruik te maak van fisiese skaalmodelstrukture en -simulasies. 1/120ste en 1/200ste geskaleerde lynmodelle, wat onderskeidelik 'n absorberende- en metaalgrondvlak bevat, was gebruik om 'n 3 spanlengte kraglyn te simuleer met behulp van FEKO. Metings van die fisiese skaalmodel strukture is in 'n anegoise kamer geneem. Beide die metings en die simulasies toon dat die lyn 'n endpunt uitstralingspatroon het. Lynlengte, die opwekkingsposisie van die stroompuls en die lynkonfigurasie is 'n paar van die parameters wat die uitstralingpatroon beïnvloed, soos in die navorsing aangedui. Die bevindinge van hierdie studie word gebruik om steurnisse as gevolg van vonkontladings op die kraglyn te identifiseer, op te spoor en uiteindelik reg te stel. Toepaslike toerusting word voorgestel wat gebruik kan word vir die identifisering en opsporing van vonkontladings.

Thesis (MEng)--Stellenbosch University, 2014. / ENGLISH ABSTRACT: The extension of the Karoo Array Telescope (KAT), MeerKAT, will be the most sensitive radio telescope in the southern hemisphere until it is superseded by the completion of the Square Kilometre Array (SKA). These instruments are to be constructed in the Karoo which is an area in South-Africa that is protected against Radio Frequency Interference (RFI) by the Astronomy Geographical Advantage (AGA) act. However, the telescope is also vulnerable to self-generated interference and specialised measurement systems are required to monitor RFI levels. The development of a ReAl Time Transient AnalYser (RATTY) is described and two Experimental Development Models (XDM) are compared. The first uses a mixing philosophy, and the second direct-sampling. The selection of these models was based on the evaluation of several analogue Front-End (FE) designs. A stripline-filter design process is presented along with the results obtained for custom filters developed for the FEs. Several analyses were compared to measurements performed with one of the devices and good agreement was shown between the system characteristics. Issues regarding the Spurious Free Dynamic Range (SFDR) of the FE designs were identified in the process and measurement-corrected simulations used to predict the achievable ranges. The outcome of the XDM comparison promotes the continued development of a direct-sampling strategy to fulfil the short-term goals of the project. A static calibration procedure is demonstrated for the mixing system and implemented to account for different FE configurations. An overview of the digital and software components of the RATTY system is given and Electromagnetic Compatibility (EMC) principles are applied during the construction of both systems. / AFRIKAANSE OPSOMMING: Die finale fase van die Karoo Reeks Teleskoop (KAT), MeerKAT, sal die sensitiefste radio teleskoop in die suidelike halfrond wees. Dit sal egter oortref word deur die vierkante kilometer reeks, wat die sensitiefste radio teleskoop ter wêreld sal word. Beide instrumente sal vatbaar wees vir radiofrekwensie steurings en sal opgerig word in ‘n wet-beskermde omgewing. Die teleskope is ook vatbaar vir radiofrekwensie steurings wat deur interne stelsels opgewek kan word. Dus word gespesialiseerde meetapparate benodig om die betrokke area en substelsels van die teleskope te monitor. Die ontwikkeling van ‘n meetinstrument vir die ontleding van kort-durasie tydseine (RATTY) word beskryf en twee eksperimentele ontwikkelings modelle word vergelyk. Hierdie modelle is gebaseer op die verfyning van voorafgaande ontwerpe vir die analoog substelsel van die instrument en hierdie proses word verduidelik. Die eerste model volg ‘n menger strategie waar die tweede model direkte-monstering implementeer. ‘n Dubbel-laag, mikrostrookfilter ontwerpsproses word beskryf en die gemete resultate vir die ontwikkelde filters word bespreek. Verskeie ontledings is aangewend en vergelyk met die gemete resultate van die stelsels. Hieruit word bevredigende ooreenkomste getref. Die beperkings van die modelle, weens interne distorsie, word geïdentifiseer in dié proses en verdere skattings word gemaak d.m.v. simulasies. Die eksperimentele modelle word vergelyk en die voorkeur van ‘n direkte-monsterings stelsel word gemotiveer. Die digitale en sagteware komponente word oorsigtelik behandel. Tydens die konstruksie van die modelle word die toepassing van elektromagnetiese verenigbaarheids beginsels verduidelik. Laastens word ‘n eenvoudige kalibrasie toegepas op die menger stelsel en ‘n toepassing daarvan word behandel.

Due to the massive increase of active transmitters broadcasting over wideband frequencies, such as 5G wireless systems, LEO/MEO satellites, satellite constellations, and the increase of IoT devices in the average home, the radio frequency spectrum is becoming more and more congested by interference. Passive receivers face additional challenges due to the growing use of wideband frequency transmissions aimed at boosting communication system throughput. As a result, passive receivers must adopt more robust and intricate techniques to mitigate radio frequency interference. A proposed RFI removal system, known as the true time delay Hadamard projection algorithm, has been introduced in previous work to eliminate a single RFI source while preserving a narrowband signal of interest. An RF frontend is developed to assess the effectiveness of the Hadamard projection algorithm implemented on an RFSoC ZCU216. Additionally, the TTD Hadamard projection algorithm is expanded to enable the cancellation of multiple RFI sources rather than just a single source for a uniform linear array and a uniform rectangular array. Over-the-air tests are conducted to verify the performance of the interference cancellation algorithms and demonstrate the algorithms' ability to preserve the signals of interest while removing the wideband interference. Multiple algorithms are proposed to estimate the time delays used by the interference cancellation algorithm to effectively eliminate wideband interference. These algorithms address diverse scenarios encompassing interference sources ranging from strong to weak SNR. Detailed reports of algorithm performance provide insights into their effectiveness and suitability across specific interference conditions.

This work is focused on the subject of the interference modelling for xDSL technologies. First, the xDSL technologies are explained. Following is the presentation and description of the different kinds of the xDSL technologies. The next part deals with the basic parameters of metallic cable lines – especially the primary and secondary parameters. Nowadays wider bandwidths are used for the achievement of higher data transmission rates. During a higher frequency signal transmission a more intensive line attenuation appears. To identify the transfer characteristics of the lines while using an xDSL system, mathematic models of transmission lines are applied. That is why these mathematic models are dealt with in the next chapter. At the end of this section the mathematic models are compared using the modular and phase characteristics. The main aim of the work is to describe the different impacts which influence the efficiency of the xDSL systems. First, the causes interfering from the inside of the cable are deeply explained: Near End Crosstalk (NEXT), Far End Crosstalk (FEXT), Additive White Gaussian Noise (AWGN). Following is the explanation of the external interfering impacts: Radio Frequency Interference (RFI) and Impulse Noise. The next goal of this thesis is a design of a workstation for the tests of spectral features and the efficiency of the xDSL systems. The work also presents a designed GUI application and its description. The GUI application is an instrument for the choice or data entry of the final interference. The last chapter describes a realization of a measurement and shows the measured characteristics which were recorded on the ADSL tester and oscilloscope.

The thesis concerns the problem of interference modelling for xDSL technologies and Ethernet. The introduction describes the origin of crosstalk, that arise during the operation of the systems and the physical properties of the lines, therefore, the next section describes the properties of the primary and secondary parameters of the homogenous line and their modelling. In order to achieve higher data rates on the metallic line, systems with larger frequency spectrum are applied, resulting in a greater attenuation of the line. This issue and the characteristics determination of the transmission systems are subjects of the mathematical models, which are divided according to the modelling of primary or secondary parameters. The main goal of this work is to describe the effects which influence the performance of data transfer via xDSL and Ethernet technology focusing on internal and external disturbances acting on the cable lines. This is the crosstalk at the near and far end, adaptive white noise, radio frequency interference RFI and impulse noise. Following part of the thesis deals with the properties of xDSL technologies, specifically ADSL2+ and VDSL2 and Ethernet. Another aim is to design applications which enable to test the performance of xDSL and Ethernet transmission systems with its own award simulations interference. The conclusion describes the design and implementation of laboratory experiments for measuring of the efficiency and spectral properties of xDSL. The proposed laboratory protocols are annexed to this thesis, including the measured waveforms.

Dans ce manuscrit, un modèle complet pour la simulation de l'écoulement d'un fluide thermor éactif à travers un milieu poreux fortement compressible est présenté. Ce modèle est utilisé pour l'étude des procédés d'élaboration des matériaux composites par infusion à travers leur épaisseur (Liquid Resin Infusion-LRI et Resin Film Infusion-RFI ). Dans ces procédés, le mélange entre les renforts et la résine liquide est réalisé dans la direction transverse aux plans des préformes pendant la phase de mise en forme. Les coˆuts sont ainsi réduits et les problèmes de remplissage éliminés. Ces procédés sont néanmoins peu maîtrisés et les caractéristiques de la pièce finale difficilement prévisibles (principalement les épaisseurs et les porosités). La mise au point d'un modèle numérique constituerait un bon outil pour développer et finaliser de nouvelles solutions composites. D'un point de vue physique, l'infusion de la résine à travers l'épaisseur des préformes est une conséquence de la pression appliquée sur l'empilement résine/préforme. Dans cette analyse multi-physique deux types de problèmes sont rencontrés. Tout d'abord, on connait mal les conditions de couplage entre les zones liquides, gouvernées par les équations de Stokes, et les préformes imprégnées assimilées à des milieux poreux, gouvernées par une loi de Darcy et une loi de comportement mécanique non-linéaire. Par ailleurs, les interactions entre l'écoulement de la résine et la compression des préformes ne sont pas bien maîtrisées. Le modèle développé inclut donc une condition de Beaver-Joseph- Schaffman modifiée pour le couplage entre les zones de Darcy et de Stokes. Une formulation ALE pour l'écoulement de la résine dans un milieu poreux déformable subissant de fortes déformations est utilisée et couplée à une formulation Lagrangienne Réactualisée pour la partie solide. Ces deux mécanismes physiques sont couplés à des modèles thermo-chimiques pour traiter la réticulation de la résine sous l'action du cycle de température. Dans ce travail, un certain nombre d'outils numériques et de nouvelles formulations ont été développés en vue de simuler les procédés LRI et RFI. Chaque outil est étudié et validé analytiquement ou numériquement avant d'être intégré dans les modèles LRI /RFI. Des simulations numériques d'infusion sont ensuite présentées et commentées, puis une première comparaison avec des essais expérimentaux est proposée.

The present dissertation is the design of a company's business plan, with a view to the new monitoring system, with all the important factors such as economic and technical factors, and legislative changes in the branch are taken into consideration. Furthermore there is the view to the economic standing of the company is also evalua-ted. The business plan is simultaneously considered from a general view of potential implementation of the proposed solution.

Radio astronomy is the science of observing the heavens at radio frequencies, from a few kHz to approximately 300 GHz. In recent years, radio astronomy has faced a growing interference problem as radio frequency (RF) bandwidth has become an increasingly scarce commodity. A programmable real-time DSP least-mean-square interference canceller was developed and demonstrated as a successful method of excising satellite down-link signals from both an experimental platform at BYU, and the Green Bank Telescope at the National Radio Astronomy Observatory in West Virginia. A performance analysis of this cancellation system in the radio astronomy radio frequency interference (RFI) mitigation regime constitutes the main contribution of this thesis. The real-time BYU test platform consists of small radio telescopes, low noise RF receivers, and a state-of-the-art DSP platform. This programmable real-time radio astronomy RFI mitigation tool is the first of its kind. Basic tools needed for radio astronomy observations and the analysis and implementation of interference mitigation algorithms were also implemented in the DSP platform, including a power spectral density estimator, a beamformer, and an array signal correlator.