Thesis (PhD (Electronic Engineering))--University of Stellenbosch, 2009. / The downloading of images is a bottleneck in the image acquisition chain for low earth orbit, remote sensing satellites. An on-board image quality assessment system could optimise use of available downlink time by prioritising images for download, based on their quality. An image quality assessment system based on measuring image degradations is proposed. Algorithms for estimating degradations are investigated. The degradation types considered are cloud cover, additive sensor noise and the defocus extent of the telescope. For cloud detection, the novel application of heteroscedastic discriminant analysis resulted in better performance than comparable dimension reducing transforms from remote sensing literature. A region growing method, which was previously used on-board a micro-satellite for cloud cover estimation, is critically evaluated and compared to commonly used thresholding. The thresholding method is recommended. A remote sensing noise estimation algorithm is compared to a noise estimation algorithm based on image pyramids. The image pyramid algorithm is recommended. It is adapted, which results in smaller errors. A novel angular spectral smoothing method for increasing the robustness of spectral based, direct defocus estimation is introduced. Three existing spectral based defocus estimation methods are compared with the angular smoothing method. An image quality assessment model is developed that models the mapping of the three estimated degradation levels to one quality score. A subjective image quality evaluation experiment is conducted, during which more than 18000 independent human judgements are collected. Two quality assessment models, based on neural networks and splines, are tted to this data. The spline model is recommended. The integrated system is evaluated and image quality predictions are shown to correlate well with human quality perception.

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 (PhD (Electrical and Electronic Engineering))--University of Stellenbosch, 2010. / ENGLISH ABSTRACT: Passive millimetre-wave (PMMW) imaging is a technique that uses radiometers to detect thermal radiation emitted and reflected by metallic and non-metallic objects. While visual and infra-red emissions are attenuated by atmospheric constituents, PMMW emissions are transmitted, resulting in consistent contrast between different objects from day to night in clear weather and in low-visibility conditions to form images for a range of security and inclement weather applications. The use of a PMMW imaging system on a small unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) offers extremely attractive possibilities for applications such as airborne surveillance for search and rescue operations, which are often hindered by inclement weather making visibility poor and endangering the rescuers as the search vehicle flies through the bad weather zone. The UAV would fly above the bad weather zone, with the PMMW imaging system detecting the thermal radiation emitted and reflected by objects in the MMW spectrum through the inclement weather. The 35GHz propagation window is chosen for the greater transmission through atmospheric constituents. The design of the PMMW imaging system is severely limited by the size of the UAV, particularly in the inability to incorporate any form of optical or mechanical scanning antenna. A possible solution is a long, thin antenna array fitted under the wings of the UAV. Such an antenna has a narrow, high gain, frequency-scanned beam along the plane perpendicular to the flight path, but a very broad beam along the plane of the flight path blurs the image, making it difficult to accurately determine the position of an object or to differentiate between objects situated along the plane of the flight path. This dissertation proposes a technique of image reconstruction based on the Kalman filter, a recursive filter that uses feedback control to estimate the state of a partially observed non-stationary stochastic process, to reconstruct an accurate image of the target area from such a detected signal. It is shown that given a simulated target area, populated with an arbitrary number of objects, the Kalman filter is able to successfully reconstruct the image using the measured antenna pattern to model the scanning process and reverse the blurring effect / AFRIKAANSE OPSOMMING: Passiewe millimetergolf (PMMG) beeldvorming is ’n tegniek wat van radiometers gebruik maak om termiese straling waar te neem vanaf beide metaal en nie-metaal voorwerpe. Waar optiese en infra-rooi straling attenueer word deur atmosferiese bestanddele, plant PMMG strale ongehinderd voort. Dit lei tot konstante kontras tussen verskillende voorwerpe in daglig of snags, mooi of bewolkte weer, en in ander lae-sigbaarheid toestande om beelde te vorm vir ’n wye reeks sekuriteits- of weertoepassings. Die gebruik van PMMG beeldvorming op ’n klein onbemande lugtuig (OLT) bied aantreklike moontlikhede vir toepassings in observasie en reddingsoperasies, wat dikwels verhinder word deur bewolke weer wat reddingswerkers in gevaar stel as hul moet vlieg in toestande van lae sigbaarheid. Die OLT kan bokant die onweer vlieg, met die PMMG beeldvormer wat termiese straling in die millimetergolf spektrum vanaf voorwerpe kan waarneem in swaks weerstoestande. Vir verbeterde golfvoortplanting deur atmosferiese bestanddele, word die 35GHz band gekies. Die ontwerp van die PMMG stelsel word geweldig beperk deur die grootte van die OLT, spesifiek deur die tuig se onvermoë om ’n antenne te huisves wat opties of meganies kan skandeer. ’n Moontlike oplossing is om gebruik te maak van ’n lang, dun antenne samestelling wat onder die OLT se vlerke geplaas word. So ’n antenne het ’n nou, hoë-aanwins bundel wat met frekwensie skandeer langs ’n vlak loodreg tot die vlugtrajek. So ’n antenne het egter ’n baie wye bundel langs die vlugtrajek, wat beeldkwaliteit verlaag en dit moeilik maak om die posisie van ’n voorwerp langs die vlugtrajek te bepaal, of om tussen veelvuldige voorwerpe te onderskei. Hierdie proefskrif bied ’n tegniek van beeldherwinning gebaseer op die Kalman filter, ’n rekursiewe filter wat terugvoerbeheer gebruik om die toestand van ’n nie-stasionêre stochastiese proses af te skat wat slegs gedeeltelik waargeneem is, om soedoende ’n akkurate beeld van die teikenarea te herkonstrueer vanuit ’n verwronge beeld. Dit word getoon dat, gegewe ’n gesimuleerde teikenomgewing met ’n arbitrêre hoeveelheid voorwerpe, die Kalman filter suksesvol ’n beeld kan herkonstrueer deur gebruik te maak van die antenne se gemete stralingspatroon om die skanderingsproses na te boots, om sodoende die beeldkwaliteit te verhoog

Thesis (PhD (Electrical and Electronic Engineering))--University of Stellenbosch, 2010. / ENGLISH ABSTRACT: Autonomous vehicles have recently received much attention from researchers. The prospect of safe and reliable autonomous vehicles for general, unregulated environments promises several advantages over human-controlled vehicles, including increased efficiency, reliability and capability with the associated decrease in danger to humans and reduction in operating costs. A critical requirement for the safe operation of fully autonomous vehicles is their ability to avoid collisions with obstacles and other vehicles. In addition, they are often required to maintain a minimum separation from obstacles and other vehicles, which is called conflict avoidance. The research presented in thesis focuses on methods for effective conflict avoidance. Existing conflict avoidance methods either make limiting assumptions or cannot execute in real-time due to computational complexity. This thesis proposes methods for real-time conflict avoidance in uncertain, cluttered and dynamic environments. These methods fall into the category of non-cooperative conflict avoidance. They allow very general vehicle and environment models, with the only notable assumption being that the position and velocity states of the vehicle and obstacles have a jointly Gaussian probability distribution. Conflict avoidance for fully autonomous vehicles consists of three functions, namely modelling and identification of the environment, conflict detection and conflict resolution. We present an architecture for such a system that ensures stable operation. The first part of this thesis comprises the development of a novel and efficient probabilistic conflict detection method. This method processes the predicted vehicle and environment states to compute the probability of conflict for the prediction period. During the method derivation, we introduce the concept of the flow of probability through the boundary of the conflict region, which enables us to significantly reduce the complexity of the problem. The method also assumes Gaussian distributed states and defines a tight upper bound to the conflict probability, both of which further reduce the problem complexity, and then uses adaptive numerical integration for efficient evaluation. We present the results of two simulation examples which show that the proposed method can calculate in real-time the probability of conflict for complex and cluttered environments and complex vehicle maneuvers, offering a significant improvement over existing methods. The second part of this thesis adapts existing kinodynamic motion planning algorithms for conflict resolution in uncertain, dynamic and cluttered environments. We use probabilistic roadmap methods and suggest three changes to them, namely using probabilistic conflict detection methods, sampling the state-time space instead of the state space and batch generation of samples. In addition, we propose a robust and adaptive way to choose the size of the sampling space using a maximum least connection cost bound. We then put all these changes together in a proposed motion planner for conflict resolution. We present the results of two simulation examples which show that the proposed motion planner can only find a feasible path in real-time for simple and uncluttered environments. However, the manner in which we handle uncertainty and the sampling space bounds offer significant contributions to the conflict resolution field / AFRIKAANSE OPSOMMING: Outonome voertuie het die afgelope tyd heelwat aandag van navorsers geniet. Die vooruitsig van veilige en betroubare outonome voertuie vir algemene en ongereguleerde omgewings beloof verskeie voordele bo menslik-beheerde voertuie en sluit hoër effektiwiteit, betroubaarheid en vermoëns asook die gepaardgaande veiligheid vir mense en laer bedryfskoste in. ’n Belangrike vereiste vir die veilige bedryf van volledig outonome voertuie is hul vermoë om botsings met hindernisse en ander voertuie te vermy. Daar word ook dikwels van hulle vereis om ’n minimum skeidingsafstand tussen hulle en die hindernisse of ander voertuie te handhaaf – dit word konflikvermyding genoem. Die navorsing in hierdie tesis fokus op metodes vir effektiewe konflikvermyding. Bestaande konflikvermydingsmetodes maak óf beperkende aannames óf voer te stadig uit as gevolg van bewerkingskompleksiteit. Hierdie tesis stel metodes voor vir intydse konflikvermyding in onsekere en dinamiese omgewings wat ook baie hindernisse bevat. Die voorgestelde metodes val in die klas van nie-samewerkende konflikvermydingsmetodes. Hulle kan algemene voertuig- en omgewingsmodelle hanteer en hul enigste noemenswaardige aanname is dat die posisie- en snelheidstoestande van die voertuig en hindernisse Gaussiese waarskynliksheidverspreidings toon. Konflikvermyding vir volledig outonome voertuie bestaan uit drie stappe, naamlik modellering en identifikasie van die omgewing, konflikdeteksie en konflikresolusie. Ons bied ’n argitektuur vir so ’n stelsel aan wat stabiele werking verseker. Die eerste deel van die tesis beskryf die ontwikkeling van ’n oorspronklike en doeltreffende metode vir waarskynliksheid-konflikdeteksie. Die metode gebruik die voorspelde toestande van die voertuig en omgewing en bereken die waarskynlikheid van konflik vir die betrokke voorspellingsperiode. In die afleiding van die metode definiëer ons die konsep van waarskynliksheidvloei oor die grens van die konflikdomein. Dit stel ons in staat om die kompleksiteit van die probleem beduidend te verminder. Die metode aanvaar ook Gaussiese waarskynlikheidsverspreiding van toestande en definiëer ’n nou bogrens tot die waarskynlikheid van konflik om die kompleksiteit van die probleem verder te verminder. Laastens gebruik die metode aanpasbare integrasiemetodes vir vinnige berekening van die waarskynlikheid van konflik. Die eerste deel van die tesis sluit af met twee simulasies wat aantoon dat die voorgestelde konflikdeteksiemetode in staat is om die waarskynlikheid van konflik intyds te bereken, selfs vir komplekse omgewings en voertuigbewegings. Die metode lewer dus ’n beduidende bydrae tot die veld van konflikdeteksie. Die tweede deel van die tesis pas bestaande kinodinamiese beplanningsalgoritmes aan vir konflikresolusie in komplekse omgewings. Ons stel drie veranderings voor, naamlik die gebruik van waarskynliksheid-konflikdeteksiemetodes, die byvoeg van ’n tyd-dimensie in die monsterruimte en die generasie van meervoudige monsters. Ons stel ook ’n robuuste en aanpasbare manier voor om die grootte van die monsterruimte te kies. Al die voorafgaande voorstelle word saamgevoeg in ’n beplanner vir konflikresolusie. Die tweede deel van die tesis sluit af met twee simulasies wat aantoon dat die voorgestelde beplanner slegs intyds ’n oplossing kan vind vir eenvoudige omgewings. Die manier hoe die beplanner onsekerheid hanteer en die begrensing van die monsterruimte lewer egter waardevolle bydraes tot die veld van konflikresolusie

Thesis (PhD (Electrical and Electronic Engineering))--University of Stellenbosch, 2010. / ENGLISH ABSTRACT: We propose a new methodology, based on proper scoring rules, for the evaluation of the goodness of pattern recognizers with probabilistic outputs. The recognizers of interest take an input, known to belong to one of a discrete set of classes, and output a calibrated likelihood for each class. This is a generalization of the traditional use of proper scoring rules to evaluate the goodness of probability distributions. A recognizer with outputs in well-calibrated probability distribution form can be applied to make cost-effective Bayes decisions over a range of applications, having di fferent cost functions. A recognizer with likelihood output can additionally be employed for a wide range of prior distributions for the to-be-recognized classes. We use automatic speaker recognition and automatic spoken language recognition as prototypes of this type of pattern recognizer. The traditional evaluation methods in these fields, as represented by the series of NIST Speaker and Language Recognition Evaluations, evaluate hard decisions made by the recognizers. This makes these recognizers cost-and-prior-dependent. The proposed methodology generalizes that of the NIST evaluations, allowing for the evaluation of recognizers which are intended to be usefully applied over a wide range of applications, having variable priors and costs. The proposal includes a family of evaluation criteria, where each member of the family is formed by a proper scoring rule. We emphasize two members of this family: (i) A non-strict scoring rule, directly representing error-rate at a given prior. (ii) The strict logarithmic scoring rule which represents information content, or which equivalently represents summarized error-rate, or expected cost, over a wide range of applications. We further show how to form a family of secondary evaluation criteria, which by contrasting with the primary criteria, form an analysis of the goodness of calibration of the recognizers likelihoods. Finally, we show how to use the logarithmic scoring rule as an objective function for the discriminative training of fusion and calibration of speaker and language recognizers. / AFRIKAANSE OPSOMMING: Ons wys hoe om die onsekerheid in die uittree van outomatiese sprekerherkenning- en taalherkenningstelsels voor te stel, te meet, te kalibreer en te optimeer. Dit maak die bestaande tegnologie akkurater, doeltre ender en meer algemeen toepasbaar.

Thesis (PhD (Electrical and Electronic Engineering))--University of Stellenbosch, 2010. / Dissertation presented for the degree of Doctor of Philosophy in Engineering at the University of Stellenbosch / ENGLISH ABSTRACT: Planar weak link structures, such as micro-bridges, variable thickness bridges and nanobridges, have always attracted a lot of attention. Their potential to behave as real Josephson elements make them useful devices, with numerous applications. Powerful techniques, such as focused ion-beam and electron-beam lithography, were successfully used and are well understood in planar weak link structure fabrication. In this dissertation the results of an experimental study on planar weak link structures are presented. For the first time these structures have been successfully fabricated using AFM nanolithography on hard high-temperature superconducting YBCO tracks, where diamond coated silicon tips were used as a ploughing tool. Superconducting YBCO thin films were deposited on different substrates, using inverted cylindrical magnetron sputtering. The films were used to fabricate micro-bridges, variable thickness bridges and nano-bridges, by using conventional photolithography, argon ion-beam milling and AFM nanolithography. The measured I-V characteristics of the fabricated micro-bridges (width down to 1.9 µm), variable thickness bridges (thickness down to 15 nm) and nano-bridge (width down to 490 nm) showed well defined DC and AC Josephson effect characteristics. For better understanding of the behaviour of these types of weak links, critical current versus temperature measurements, and magnetic field modulation of the critical current measurements, were also performed, with the results and discussions given inside the chapters. The major challenges that were experienced in the laboratory during the fabrication processes and the operation of the fabricated devices are also discussed, with the solutions given where appropriate. / AFRIKAANSE OPSOMMING: Swak-skakel vlakstrukture, soos mikrobr.ue, br.ue met veranderlike dikte en nanobr.ue, het nog altyd baie aandag getrek. Hul het die potensiaal om soos werklike Josephson-elemente te kan funksioneer en is, as gevolg hiervan, nuttige toestelle met veelvuldige toepassings. Kragtige tegnieke, soos gefokuste ioonstraal- en elektronstraal litografie, is suksesvol gebruik en word goed verstaan in die vervaardiging van swak-skakel vlakstrukture. In hierdie proefskrif word die resultate van ¡¦n eksperimentele studie van swak-skakel vlakstrukture voorgel.e. Vir die eerste keer is hierdie strukture suksesvol vervaardig, deur gebruik te maak AFMnanolitografie op harde, ho¡Le-temperatuur supergeleier YBCO (Yttrium Barium Koperoksied) spore, waar diamantbedekte silikonpunte gebruik is as ploeginstrument. ¡¦n Dun lagie van supergeleidende YBCO is op verskillende substrate gedeponeer, deur gebruik te maak van omgekeerde silindriese magnetron verstuiwing. Die dun lagies is gebruik in die vervaardiging van mikrobr.ue, br.ue met veranderlike dikte en nanobr.ue, deur die gebruik van gewone fotolitografie, argon-ioonstraal frees en AFM nanolitografie. Die gemete I-V eienskappe van die vervaardigde mikrobr.ue (met breedte so laag as 1.9 µm), veranderlike-dikte br.ue (dikte tot 15 nm) en nanobr.ue (breedte so min as 490 nm) toon goed gedefinieerde GS en WS eienskappe van die Josephson-effek. Ten einde die gedrag van hierdie tipes swak-skakels beter te kan verstaan, is metings gedoen van kritieke stroom teenoor temperatuur, asook magnetiese veld modulasie van die kritieke stroom. Hierdie resultate en besprekings daarvan word binne die toepaslike hoofstukke aangebied. Die grootste uitdagings wat in die laboratorium, sowel as met die toetsing van die vervaardigde toestelle ondervind is, word ook bespreek. Waar moontlik, word toepaslike oplossings voorgestel.

Thesis (DPhil (Electrical and Electronic Engineering))--University of Stellenbosch, 2011. / ENGLISH ABSTRACT: The Karoo Array Telescope (KAT) will be used by South Africa in its bid to host the international Square Kilometre Array (SKA). As the SKA will have orders of magnitude greater sensitivity than existing radio telescopes, it will also be concomitantly more sensitive to radio frequency interference (RFI). The influence of RFI on a differential mode (DM) KAT conductive system is an unavoidable phenomenon. In this context, the conductive or galvanic system can, in its most basic form, consist of a source, a load, and connecting conductors. It can also, in the case of the KAT-7 seven-dish interferometer, consist of each telescope, its functional cabling, and the main correlator connecting the telescopes together. However, additional connections between the system and the environment exist. These might be an intentional connection made to the earthing layout, or unintentional connections due to parasitic capacitances and inductive connections. As a result of this, additional conductive systems are created which carry common mode (CM) currents. Interference present in such CM paths enters the DM system through the transfer impedance (Zt) between them. To reduce or eliminate this interference in the DM system, Zt has to be minimised. The use of an earthed parallel conductor (EPC as commonly referred to) in the form of a cable tray is considered to be one of the principal methods to reduce Zt. The properties of cable trays as EPCs at wavelengths which are greater than the tray length are well documented. One main focus in this dissertation is on cable tray mid-span and end connections. They are not well described in the literature over the wide range of frequencies that is expected for KAT developments. The influence of the most common connections on the measured and computed Zt of the cable tray is determined. Computer Simulation Technology’s Microwave Studio (CST MWS) is employed to validate the measured results and also to enable visualisation of the fields and currents. Recommendations for the best connection to use for any cable tray installation is given. The overall shielding ability of optimally-connected cable trays has been evaluated using a physical and computational model. In both cases the induced voltage on a victim conductor, and far-field gain functions for varying angles of incidence onto the model, are determined. The results also show that for certain scenarios, most of the coupling to the victim conductor, takes place inside the end enclosure and not the cable tray. In general, properly-connected cable trays do provide protection to their enclosed conductors, even at frequencies were the wavelength is much shorter than the width of the tray. The second main focus arises from an on-site radio frequency (RF) current audit undertaken on two of the seven KAT-7 telescopes. Shielding measures, such as interface barriers at the floor and roof of the lower telescope pedestal, are studied. The investigation is facilitated by the development of an accurate physical and computational scale model of the dish. Direct current injection and plane wave illumination methods are used to excite the system. The measured CM current distributions are compared and comments made regarding the validity of the measurement procedure. The CM currents, measured around the outside of the lower pedestal show higher levels when a direct current path to ground is established, as opposed to when no clear path exists. This finding suggests at least two methods of preventing CM interference entering or leaving the pedestal: harden the floor and roof barriers, or manage current paths outside the telescope. Related to this, CM currents measured either side of the telescope interface barriers, are used to determine the level of shielding the interface provides. When compared to the common definition of shielding effectiveness, the current measurement provides more conservative shielding estimates. The research in this dissertation has influenced, and will continue to influence, the layout of galvanic systems for the present KAT-7 structures and the anticipated developments to MeerKAT. / AFRIKAANSE OPSOMMING: Die Karoo Array Telescop (KAT) sal gebruik word deur Suid-Afrika in sy poging om die bod te kry om die internasionale Square Kilometre Array (SKA) te huisves. Aangesien die SKA ordes meer sensitief sal wees as bestaande radioteleskope, sal dit terselfdertyd ook meer sensitief wees vir radio frekwensie steurnisse. Die invloed van radio frekwensie steurnisse op die differentiëlemodus KAT geleidende netwerk is iets onvermydeliks. Binne hierdie konteks kan die geleidende netwerk, in sy mees basiese vorm, bestaan uit ʼn bron, ʼn las, en verbindingsgeleiers. Dit kan ook, in die geval van die KAT-7 sewe-teleskoop interferometer, bestaan uit elke teleskoop, sy funksionele bekabeling, en die korrelator wat die verbinding is tussen al die teleskope. Daar is egter, addisionele verbindings tussen die netwerk en die onmiddellike omgewing rondom dit. Hierdie verbindings kan opsetlik gemaak word deur byvoorbeeld, verbinding van die netwerk se aardkabel aan die res van die beaarding, of onopsetlik deur parasitiese kapasitansies en induktiewe verbindings. As gevolg hiervan word addisionele geledende netwerke geskep waarin gemenemodus strome kan vloei. Indien daar wel strome in die gemenemodus netwerk vloei, word dit oorgedra aan die differentiëlemodus netwerk deur ʼn oordragimpedansie (Zt) wat teenwoordig is tussen die twee. Om dus die steurnisse in die differentiëlemodus netwerk te verminder of te elimineer, moet Zt tot ʼn minimum beperk word. Die gebruik van ʼn geaarde parallelle geleier in die vorm van ʼn kabelkanaal, word beskou as een van die mees doeltreffendste metodes om Zt te verminder. Die eienskappe van kabelkanale as geaarde parallelle geleiers by frekwensies waar die golflengtes langer is as die van die kabelkanaal, is volledig gedokumenteer. Een van die belangrikste fokuspunte in hierdie verhandeling is rakende die kabelkanale se middel en eindpuntverbindings. Hulle word nie goed beskryf in die beskikbare literatuur nie, en weliswaar vir wyeband doeleindes wat vir KAT ontwikkelinge verwag word. Die invloed van die mees algemeenste kabelkanaal verbindings op gemete en berekende Zt word bepaal. Computer Simulation Technology’s Microwave Studio (CST MWS) word eerstens, gebruik om die akkuraatheid van die gemete resultate te bewys en tweedens, deur visualisering van E-veld en gemenemodus oppervlak strome. Aanbevelings vir die beste verbindings vir enige kabelkanaal opstelling word gegee. Die algemene afskerminsvermoeë van ʼn idiaal-verbinde kabelkanaal word bepaal deur middel van metings en simulasies. In beide gevalle word die geïnduseerde spanning op ʼn slagoffer kabel, en die verveld aanwins funksie bepaal vir verskillende invalshoeke op die model. Die resultate toon verder dat vir spesifieke gevalle wat beskou word, die meeste koppeling binne die kabinet aan die einde van die kabelkanaal plaasvind. Oor die algemeen verskaf goed verbinde kabelkanale wel ʼn sekere vlak van beskerming aan kabels binne die kabelkanaal, selfs by frekwensies waar die golflengte baie korter is as die breedte van die kabelkanaal. Die tweede belangrike fokuspunt spruit voort uit ʼn radio frekwensie stroomoudit, wat twee van die KAT-7 teleskope evalueer het. Afskermingsmatreëls soos die kabelhindernisse op die vloer en dak van die onderste teleskoop voetstuk, word bestudeer. Tesame met die metings op die werklike teleskoop wat geneem is, word ʼn akkurate fisiese en simulasie skaalmodel geskep om die metings beter te analiseer. Direkte stroominspuitings metode en platvlakgolf beligting word gebruik om gemenemodus strome op die teleskoop se struktuur te induseer. Die gemenemodus stroomverspreiding vir beide tegnieke word vergelyk in ʼn poging om kommentaar te lewer rakende die geldigheid van die meettegniek. Die gemenemodus strome wat aan die buitekant van die teleskoop voetstuk gemeet word, is hoër wanneer ʼn direkte stroompad na grond op die voetstuk geskep word in vergelyking met ʼn ongedefinieerde pad. Hierdie verskynsel dui daarop dat ten minste twee metodes bestaan om die ongevraagde gemenemodus strome te verhoed om aan die binnekant van die teleskoop voetstuk te vloei. Die een is die verbetering van die vloer en dak kabelhindernisse, en die ander is verbetering van die stroompad (stroompaaie) aan die buitekant van die voetstuk sodat ʼn meer direkte pad na grond geskep word. Die gemiddelde gemenemodus strome weerskante van die kabelhindernis, kan gebruik word op te bepaal hoeveel afskerming die hindernis bied. Indien die berekende waardes by verskillende frekwensies vergelyk word met die tradisionele filter doeltreffendheid (Zt), word ʼn meer konserwatiewe beraming verkry. Die navorsing in hierdie verhandeling het alreeds, maar sal ook die toekomstige uitleg van galvaniese stelsels vir KAT-7 asook die verwagte MeerKAT beïnvloed.

Thesis (PhD)--Stellenbosch University, 2013. / ENGLISH ABSTRACT: In this work the Method of Manufactured Solutions (MMS) is introduced for the code veri cation of full-wave frequency dependent electromagnetic computational software. At rst the method is sketched in the context of the veri cation and validation process and the need for proper code veri cation is highlighted. Subsequently, the MMS is investigated in its natural context: the Finite Element Method, speci cally for the E- eld Vector Wave Equation. The usefulness of the method to detect error in a computational code is demonstrated. The selection of Manufactured Solutions is discussed and it is demonstrated how it can be used to nd the probable cause of bugs. Mutation testing is introduced and used to show the ability to detect errors present in code. The MMS is nally applied in a novel manner to a Method of Moments (MoM) code. The challenges of numerical integration associated with the application of the operator is discussed and correct integration is successfully demonstrated. Subsequently the MMS is demonstrated to be successfully applied to the MoM and mutation testing is used to demonstrate the practical e cacy of the method. The application of the MMS to the MoM is the main contribution of this work. / AFRIKAANSE OPSOMMING: Die Metode van Vervaardigde Oplossings (MVO) word hier bekend gestel vir die veri kasie van numeriese volgolf frekwensie-afhanklike elektromagnetise kode. Die metode word eerstens in die bre e konteks van algemene veri kasie en validasie geplaas en gevolglik word die noodsaaklikheid van kode veri kasie beklemtoon. Daarna, word die toets-metode in die konteks van die Eindige Element Metode vir die E-veld vektorgolf vergelyking bestudeer. Die MVO is oorspronklik ontwikkel in die di erentiaalvergelyking omgewing. Die bruikbaarheid van die metode vir elektromagnetiese simulasies word prakties gedemonstreer deur die opsporing van werklike foute. Die metode word ook verder ondersoek vir die oorsprong van foute. Mutasietoetsing word bekendgestel en word gebruik om die metode verder prakties te veri eer. Die MVO word laastens in 'n nuwe manier gebruik om 'n Moment Metode kode te veri eer. Die praktiese probleme betrokke by numeriese integrasie word ondersoek en die korrekte toepassing van die integraal operator word prakties gedemonstreer. Daarna, word die MVO in hierdie konteks gedemonstreer deur verskeie voorbeelde te ondersoek. Mutasietoetsing word weereens gebruik om na die e ektiewiteit van die MVO te kyk om 'n Moment Metode kode te toets. Die toepassing van die MVO op 'n Moment Metode kode is die hoof bydrae van hierdie werk.

Thesis (PhD)--Stellenbosch University, 2013. / ENGLISH ABSTRACT: Recently, there has been significant research focus on Peer-to-Peer (P2P) Massively Multi-user Virtual Environments (MMVEs). A number of architectures have been presented in the literature to implement the P2P approach. One aspect that has not received sufficient attention in these architectures is state management and state persistency in P2P MMVEs. This work presents and simulates a novel state management and persistency architecture, called Pithos. In order to design the architecture, an investigation is performed into state consistency architectures, into which the state management and persistency architecture should fit. A novel generic state consistency model is proposed that encapsulated all state consistency models reviewed. The requirements for state management and persistency architectures, identified during the review of state consistency models, are used to review state management and persistency architectures currently receiving research attention. Identifying some deficiencies present in current designs, such as lack of fairness, responsiveness and scalability, a novel state management and persistency architecture, called Pithos, is designed. Pithos is a reliable, responsive, secure, fair and scalable distributed storage system, ideally suited to P2P MMVEs. Pithos is implemented in Oversim, which runs on the Omnet++ network simulator. An evaluation of Pithos is performed to verify that it satisfies the identified requirements. It is found that the reliability of Pithos depends heavily on object lifetimes. If an object lives longer on average, retrieval requests are more reliable. An investigation is performed into the factors influencing object lifetime. A novel Markov chain model is proposed which allows for the prediction of objects lifetimes in any finite sized network, for a given amount of redundancy, node lifetime characteristics and object repair rate. / AFRIKAANSE OPSOMMING: Onlangs is daar ’n beduidende navorsingsfokus op Eweknie Massiewe Multi-gebruiker Virtuele Omgewings (MMVOs). ’n Aantal argitekture is in die literatuur beskikbaar wat die eweknie benadering voorstel. Een aspek wat nie voldoende aandag ontvang in hierdie argitekture nie is toestandsbestuur en toestandsvolharding in eweknie MMVOs. Hierdie werk ontwerp en simuleer ’n nuwe toestandsbestuur- en toestandsvolhardingargitektuur genaamd Pithos. Ten einde die argitektuur te ontwerp is ’n ondersoek uitgevoer in toestandskonsekwentheidargitekture, waarin die toestandsbestuur- en toestandsvolhardingargitektuur moet pas. ’n Nuwe generiese toestandskonsekwentheidargitektuur word voorgestel wat alle hersiene toestandskonsekwentheid argitekture vervat. Die vereistes vir die toestandsbestuur- en toestandsvolhardingargitekture, geidentifiseer tydens die hersiening van die toestandskonsekwentheidargitekture, word gebruik om toestandsbestuuren toestandsvolhardingargitekture te hersien wat tans navorsingsaandag geniet. Identifisering van sekere leemtes teenwoordig in die huidige ontwerpe, soos ’n gebrek aan regverdigheid, responsiwiteit en skaleerbaarheid, lei tot die ontwerp van ’n nuwe toestandsbestuur- en toestandsvolhardingargitektuur wat Pithos genoem word. Pithos is ’n betroubare, responsiewe, veilige, regverdige en skaleerbare verspreide stoorstelsel, ideaal geskik is vir eweknie MMVOs. Pithos word geïmplementeer in Oversim, wat loop op die Omnet++ netwerk simulator. ’n Evaluering van Pithos word uitgevoer om te verifieer dat dit voldoen aan die geïdentifiseerde behoeftes. Daar is gevind dat die betroubaarheid van Pithos afhang van die objek leeftyd. As ’n objek gemiddeld langer leef, dan is herwinning versoeke meer betroubaar. ’n Ondersoek word uitgevoer na die faktore wat die objek leeftyd beïnvloed. ’n Nuwe Markov ketting model word voorgestel wat voorsiening maak vir die voorspelling van objek leeftye in eindige grootte netwerke, vir gegewe hoeveelhede van oortolligheid, nodus leeftyd eienskappe en objek herstelkoers.

Thesis (PhD) -- Stellenbosch University, 2001. / ENGLISH ABSTRACT: A robust and efficient adaptive sampling algorithm for multivariate, multiple output rational interpolation models, based on convergents of Thiele-type branched continued fractions, is presented. A variation of the standard branched continued fraction method is proposed that uses approximation to establish a non-rectangular grid of support points. Starting with a low order interpolant, the technique systematically increases the order by optimally choosing new support points in the areas of highest error, until the desired accuracy is achieved. In this way, accurate surrogate models are established by a small number of support points, without assuming any a priori knowledge of the microwave structure under study. The technique is illustrated and evaluated on several passive microwave structures, however it is general enough to be applied to many modelling problems. / AFRIKAANSE OPSOMMING: 'n Robuuste en effektiewe aanpasbare monsternemingsalgoritme vir multi-veranderlike, multi-uittree rasionale interpolasiemodelle, gegrond op konvergente van Thiele vertakte volgehoue breukuitbreidings, word beskryf. 'n Variasie op die konvensionele breukuitbreidingsmetode word voorgestel, wat 'n nie-reghoekige rooster van ondersteuningspunte gebruik in die funksiebenadering. Met 'n lae orde interpolant as beginpunt, verhoog die algoritme stelselmatig die orde van die interpolant deur optimaal verbeterde ondersteuningspunte te kies waar die grootste fout voorkom, totdat die gewensde akuraatheid bereik word. Hierdeur word akkurate surrogaat modelle opgebou ten spyte van min inisiele ondersteuningspunte, asook sonder voorkennis van die mikrogolfstruktuur ter sprake. Die algoritme word gedemonstreer en geevalueer op verskeie passiewe mikrogolfstrukture, maar is veelsydig genoeg om toepassing te vind in meer algemene modelleringsprobleme.