Research topics and courses Electronics-ICT
Available courses Electronics
Digital design I [6 ECTS] Contact:
Multimedia Networks: [3 ECTS] Contact:
IoT nodes: [4 ECTS] Contact:
Sensors in Embeded Systems: [3ECTS] Contact:
Available courses ICT
Digital Image Processing: [3ECTS] Contact:
General courses
Ethics in Business and Engineering[3 ECTS] Contact:Martin Meganck
Capita Selecta [3ECTS] Contact: Wim Van Petegem
Academic writing[3ECTS] Contact:Erik Van Achter
Final Project Electronics [20 ECTS]
Final Project ICT [20 ECTS]
Engineering projects
Engineering Project 1[5 ECTS] first semester
Engineering Project 2[10 ECTS] first semester
Engineering Project 3[20 ECTS] first semester
Engineering Project 4[5 ECTS] second semester
Engineering Project 5[10 ECTS] second semester
Engineering Project 6[20 ECTS] second semester
Available Research topicsICT
TOPIC_1: Advanced Mobile Access Control. This research track focuses on advanced access control mechanisms on mobile devices. More specifically, the new capabilities of smartphones are exploited to realize access control systems with attractive privacy and security properties. Amongst others, students build applications which incorporate short range communication capabilities [such as QR codes and NFC technology]. Moreover, the increasing processing capabilities on smartphones allow integrating advanced cryptographic technologies [like Idemix and UProve]. Finally, tamperproof modules are used in innovative solutions.
More information: Vincent Naessens
TOPIC_2: Privacy Friendly Mobile Identity Management. This research track focuses on user-centric identity management solutions. This means that individuals have more impact on personal information that is stored at remote servers, and that they have an impact on sensitive information that is released to service providers. To offer better privacy protection, PET technologies are added to existing identity management systems [such as Shibboleth], new architectures are designed.
For more information: Vincent Naessens
TOPIC_3: Automated scheduling and routing. CODeS [Combinatorial Optimisation and Decision Support] conducts activities in the domain of operational research. CODeS focuses on modelling and algorithm development for industrial and societal optimisation problems related to scheduling, vehicle routng and task assignment. The research topic is often driven by demand, while it is also contributingaccademically to general decision support methodologies beyond state of the art approaches to particular real life problems.
For more information: Greet Vanden Berghe
TOPIC_4: Cutting and packing optimization.CODeS is performing active research on cutting and packing optimization. Different types of cutting and packing problems are being studied with varying dimensions [1D, 2D and 3D] ad realword constraints.Examples of such problems, which often originate fromproduction or logistics, are the bin packing, stock cutting and nesting problem. CODeS develops optimization methods to efficiently solve these challenging problems. State of the art heuristics are applied in combinationwith parallel computing.
For more information:
Available Research topics Electronics
TOPIC_1: Technologies for indoor positioning. Location based services [RTLS, Real-time location services] and context-aware applications contain a large innovation potential in many areas. In outdoor environments, GPS is the basic technology to build such applications [driving guidance in cars, location based apps on smartphones, ...]. Indoor no equivalent technology is readily available. Measurements of RF-signals [delay, signal strength] in indoor wireless networks can help to estimate the position of mobile nodes. DraMCo is doing research on combining several technologies and using additional sensors [e.g. electronic accelerometer, compass, etc.]: this can enhance performance in many applications. DraMCo also started research on alternative technologies for indoor locationing: DOA and VLC. Simple antenna arrays, as they are present on recent WiFi access points, allow estimating the direction-of-arrival of signals [DOA]. This can be a valuable alternative to the currently used time-of-arrival [TOA] and received signal strength [RSS] based systems. Visible Light Communications [VLC] is getting much attention with the advent of LED lighting. In such a lighting system with many LEDs the VLC based transmission of unique identifiers per light source allows positioning.
For more information: Lieven De Strycker
TOPIC_2: RFID and NFC. In wireless sensor networks battery replacement and battery charging represent an exploitation cost which is too high for many applications. DraMCo looked at the feasibility of energy harvesting [i.e. collecting energy from the environment] in different types of wireless sensor applications. A recent research project on wireless charging of electronic equipment by use of inductive coupling will give an overview of all aspects of wireless charging: optimization of the efficiency of the energy transfer, regulations with regard to public health, relevant standards,... and give industrial partners guidelines and design rules for developing their own wireless charging products.
For more information: Lieven De Strycker
TOPIC_3: Wireless power and energy harvesting. RFID [radio frequency identification] is a very broad domain with many applications and technologies. DraMCo has research activities on two specific topics. The first one is on the automatic optimization of reader antennas for inductively coupled RFID in a broad range of environments. Metal parts in the environment of RFID readers have a large influence on the generated magnetic field and often degrade the performance of the system. By optimizing the position and the shape of the antenna, the required performance can be obtained. The second topic is the NFC [Near Field Communication]: a technology which is based on RFID and which is recently integrated in smartphones. NFC will be used for the communication of smartphones with embedded applications.
For more information: Lieven De Strycker
TOPIC_4: Hardware for wireless security. Wireless applications are clearly more prone to security violations than their wired counterparts. In wireless sensor networks, the resources [computation speed, battery power] for cryptographic operations are often very limited although adequate security is required in most applications e.g. patient privacy in medical applications, data integrity in metering applications. DraMCo does research on the impact of the implementation of [lightweight] crypto blocks in wireless sensor applications e.g. by design of hardware [FPGA] for novel security protocols.
For more information: Lieven De Strycker
TOPIC_5: Multi-touch multi-user interfaces for wireless information panels. There is a tendency to provide more natural interfacing with ICT equipment [touch, gesture, ..] and to stimulate social interaction through multi-user interfaces. DraMCo research focuses on integrating this technology in wireless devices and mobile applications.
For more information: Lieven De Strycker
TOPIC_6: Novel light sources and illumination systems.The light emitting diode [LED] has revolutionised the complete lighting industry in recent years by providing superior efficiency and lifetime. Because LEDs are compact light sources with narrow emission bandwidth, novel lighting systems with dynamic spectra and advanced illumination capabilities can be developed. Part of the research at the Light&Lighting Lab focusses on the further progress of LEDs, but also on alternatives such as laserbased lighting and OLEDs. In addition, the design and development of novel illumination systems for a wide range of applications is investigated.
For more information: Youri Meuret