Electrical and computer engineering

Our research fields have a strong tradition of excellence, supported by some of the best-equipped facilities in New Zealand. UC is fortunate to be situated in a progressive, hi-tech community and we have strong ties with local industry. Entrepreneurial activities are especially notable and help to create an environment which is conducive to challenging research and professional development.

Electrical and Computer Engineering at UC encompasses many active research fields.  These include Electric Power Engineering, nanotechnology, computational imaging and signal processing, wireless communication and geospatial technology, neural engineering, power electronics, robotics, biomedical engineering, sensors, and more.

There are many interesting additional details to be found in the sections below. Please take some time to explore.

Research strengths

Acoustics

Areas of current research in acoustics include:

• Synthetic Aperture Sonar (SAS) high-resolution undersea imaging

Research centres and groups

• Acoustics Research Group

Researchers and supervisors

Staff actively working in these areas are:

Communications, wireless and geospatial technology

Areas of current research in communications, wireless and geospatial technology include:

• High data capacity wireless systems
• Security in wireless systems
• Power efficiency in wireless systems
• Reliability of coverage and range of wireless systems
• Data analytics
• Aerial Mapping Package for aerial photogrammetry
• Precise Time Data Logger (PTDL) self-contained data logging solution
• Algebraic coding theory
• Coded modulation systems 
• Optimum and sub-optimum reduced complexity receiver design
• Digital Signal Processing (DSP) algorithms and systems implementation
• Smart antenna systems
• Space-time processing
• Space-time coding
• Blind adaptation 
• High-speed networks
• Cognitive radio
• Cooperative and distributed communications 
• Multiuser systems

Research centres and groups

• Wireless Research Centre
• Spatial Engineering Research Centre
• Communications Research Group

Researchers and supervisors

Staff actively working in these areas are:

Computational imaging

Areas of current research in computational imaging include:

• Acoustic imaging
• Biomedical imaging and signal processing
• Biophysical imaging
• Remote sensing
• Software for reconfigurable devices
• Astronomical imaging

Research centres and groups

• Computational Imaging Group (CIG)

Researchers and supervisors

Staff actively working in these areas are:

Power systems and electronics

Areas of current research in Power systems and electronics include:

• Power Quality
• Computer Analysis of Power Systems
• Power Electronic Systems
• Electrotechnology
• Deregulation 
• Electric Car Projects
• Variable speed AC motor drives 
• HV Pulse inverter for cancer therapy and liquid disinfection 
• Active power filter
• Characterisation and use of silicon-carbide devices in telecommunications power converters
• High power lead-acid battery charger 
• Smart power converter for small power generation systems

Research centres and groups

• Power Systems Group
• Power Electronics Research Group

Researchers and supervisors

Staff actively working in these areas are:

Robotics, control and instrumentation

Researchers and supervisors

Staff actively working in these areas are:

Neural engineering

Areas of current research in neural engineering include:

• Lapses of responsiveness
• Obstructive sleep apnoea
• Forensic brainwave analysis

Research centres and groups

• Neural Engineering Research Group

Researchers and supervisors

Staff actively working in these areas are: