Research Group: Intelligent Sensing and Communications
We focus on a broad range of communications, sensors and signal processing.
Who we are
The Intelligent Sensing and Communications (ISC) group was first established in 1989. Our world-leading research delivers impact across the whole spectrum of communications and digital signal processing from underpinning theories through to applications involving interdisciplinary scientific collaborations and close interactions with industry leading to an appreciation of emerging technological trends and bottleneck problems.
The ISC research comprises two intertwined strands:
- Intelligent Sensing for limb prosthetics, biometrics, ultrasound imaging and non-destructive testing (NDT) and
- Communications, including wireless and underwater acoustic communications.
We provide our students with a world class engineering education delivered to the highest standards through our BEng, MEng, MSc and PhD programmes. We educate the next generation of telecommunications and signal processing engineers to become international leaders in engineering.
Working across a range of disciplines
Our expertise is varied and wide-ranging. We work collaboratively across disciplines. We develop solutions for current and future communications, sensors and signal processing systems.
Our research includes:
- mobile wireless communications
- green communications and energy harvesting
- underwater acoustics and communications
- encryption, biometrics and security
- Internet of Things (IoT)
- biomedical engineering
- A Translational Alliance between Newcastle University and Ossur
Project Leader(s): Dr Kianoush Nazarpour
Project Dates: from 1st June 2016 to 31st May 2019 - Accurate blood pressure measurement
Project Leader(s): Prof. A, Murray
Project Dates: from 1st July 2016 to 30th June 2019 - Cooperative backhaul aided next-generation digital subscriber loops
Project Leader(s): Dr Charalampos Tsimenidis
Project Dates: 1 October 2015 to 21 December 2018 - Full-Duplex For Underwater Acoustic Communications
Project Leader(s): Dr Charalampos Tsimenidis
Project Dates: 1 January 2018 to 31 December 2020 - INNOvative monitoring and predictive maintenance solutions on lightweight WAGon (INNOWAG)
Project Leader(s): Dr Cristian Ulianov (Mechanical Engineering)
Project Dates: from 1st January 2017 to 30th June 2019 - Multimodal information processing for security and surveillance
Project Leader(s): Dr Mohsen Naqvi - Training Network in Non-Destructive Testing and Structural Health Monitoring of Aircraft Structures (NDTonAIR)
Project Leader(s): Prof. Gui Yun Tian
Project Dates: from 1st October 2016 to 31st September 2020 - University Defence Research Collaboration (UDRC)
Project Leader(s): Professor Jonathon Chambers
Project Dates: 2013 to 2018 - USMART - smart dust for large scale underwater wireless sensing
Project Leader(s): Jeffrey Neasham
Project Dates: 1 May 2017 to 30 April 2020
- A Stable Parametrically Amplified Gyroscope
Project Leader(s): Dr B.J. Gallacher
Project Dates: September 2009 to September 2012 - A systematic study of Physical LAyer Network coding: from information-theoretic understanding to practical DSP algorithm design (P.L.A.N)
Project Leader(s): Dr Z. Ding
Project Dates: March 2012 to March 2015 - Acoustic Communication network for Monitoring of underwater Environments in coastal areas (ACME)
Project Leader(s): Mr Alan Adams
Project Dates: December 2000 to November 2003 - Acoustic Modem
Project Leader(s): Prof. O.R. Hinton
Project Dates: April 2001 to January 2003 - Automatic Detection and Localisation of Threats
Project Leader(s):
Project Dates: From June 2009 to July 2012 - Biometric Smart Cards
Project Leader(s): Dr. S. Dlay, Dr. W.L. Woo
Project Dates: From April 2005 to April 2006 - Blind Deconvolution of Noisy Seismic Trace Using Independent Component Analysis
Project Leader(s): Dr. S.S. Dlay, Dr. W.L. Woo
Project Dates: From March 2004 to April 2005 - Bridge the gap of theoretical and experimental eddy current NDT
Project Leader(s): Prof. G.Y. Tian
Project Dates: From April 2007 to April 2010 - Capacity and Throughput Improvement Techniques for Broadband Fixed Wireless Access Systems
Project Leader(s): Prof. R. Carrasco
Project Dates: From September 2004 to April 2007 - Cognitive-Networks-Enabled Transnational Proactive Healthcare (CoNHealth)
Project Leader(s): Prof. G.Y. Tian
Project Dates: From April 2012 to March 2016 - Combination of the Adaptive Equaliser and Space-Time Decoder for Mimo Channels.
Project Leader(s): Prof. R. Carrasco
Project Dates: From September 2004 to September 2005 - Component Analysis
Project Leader(s): Dr S. Sali, Dr W.L. Woo, Dr S. Dlay
Project Dates: From October 2000 to September 2002 - Construction of new algebraic-geometric and LDPC codes suitable for future data storage devices
Project Leader(s): Prof. R. Carrasco, Dr S.S. Dlay
Project Dates: From April 2006 to March 2009 - Deployable sensors for concealed gun detection at a standoff distance
Project Leader(s): Prof. G.Y. Tian
Project Dates: From January 2007 to December 2008 - Development of an Imaging System Based on Magnetic Resources.
Project Leader(s):
Project Dates: to February 2004 - Discrimination of Breast Lesions Using Ultra-wideband Microwave Imaging
Project Leader(s): Dr Y. Chen
Project Dates: From October 2010 to August 2012 - Doppler Tolerant Receiver
Project Leader(s): Prof. B.S. Sharif
Project Dates: From July 1989 to June 1991 - Dynamic Transmission Protocols and Advanced Signal Processing Techniques for Wireless Sensor Networks with Cooperative Diversity
Project Leader(s): Dr Z. Ding
Project Dates: From June 2010 to September 2011 - Eddy Current Sensor Arrays for Stress and Damage Mapping
Project Leader(s): Prof. G.Y. Tian
Project Dates: From October 2007 to September 2010 - Electromagentic sensors for corrosion detection and monitoring under coating
Project Leader(s): Prof. G.Y. Tian
Project Dates: From August 2009 to January 2013 - Electromagnetic NDE for gears
Project Leader(s): Prof. G.Y. Tian
Project Dates: From January 2011 to December 2012 - Electromagnetic Techniques on High Speed Railway Inspection and Far East NDT International Forum
Project Leader(s):
Project Dates: From February 2010 to June 2010 - EPSRC IAA Phase 2: 3D super-fast and portable eddy current pulsed thermography (ECPT) for railway inspection
Project Leader(s): Prof. Gui Yun Tian
Project Dates: from 1st March 2016 to 28th February 2017 - Evolution of Mobile Communication Networks through Biologically - Inspired Technologies
Project Leader(s):
Project Dates: From January 2011 to December 2011 - EXTREME Project
Project Leader(s): Prof. N. G. Wright - Future reliable renewable energy conversion systems & networks: A collaborative UK-China project.
Project Leader(s): Prof. Gui Tian & Prof. Volker Pickert
Project Dates: From October 2008 to December 2012 - Game changer
Project Leader(s): Prof. Gui Yun Tian
Project Dates: from 1st March 2016 to 28th February 2017 - GE PII
Project Leader(s): Prof. Gui Yun Tian
Project Dates: from 1st April 2016 to 28th February 2017 - Global Research Award
Project Leader(s): Prof. G.Y. Tian
Project Dates: From April 2009 to March 2011 - GNSS scintillation: detection, forecasting and mitigation
Project Leader(s): Dr H. Strangeways
Project Dates: From April 2010 to August 2014 - Health Monitoring of Offshore Wind Farms (HEMOW)
Project Leader(s): Prof G. Y. Tian
Project Dates: From April 2011 to March 2015 - Instrument for Soundscape Recognition, Identification and Evaluation (ISRIE)
Project Leader(s): Prof. G.Y. Tian
Project Dates: From January 2007 to September 2009 - Knowledge Transfer Partnership (KTP No. 2713) - Applications of wireless technology in electrical safety testing.
Project Leader(s): Dr Graeme Chester, Prof. Bayan Sharif
Project Dates: From February 1999 to August 2004 - Long Range Telemetry in Ultra-Shallow Channels (LOTUS)
Project Leader(s): Prof. O.R. Hinton
Project Dates: From October 1997 to January 2001 - Magnetic Camera for Natural Complex Crack and Material Characterisation
Project Leader(s):
Project Dates: From June 2007 to August 2007 - Massive MIMO wireless networks: Theory and methods
Project Leader(s): Prof. Jonathon Chambers
Project Dates: from 17th April 2015 to 16th April 2018 - Multiphase velocity profile measurement using induced electromagnetic sensor array
Project Leader(s): Prof. G.Y. Tian
Project Dates: From August 2007 to February 2009 - Nano Lab Cross Disciplinary Feasibility Account
Project Leader(s):
Project Dates: From November 2009 to April 2011 - New Approach to Data Encryption Using Two-Dimensional New Transforms
Project Leader(s): Prof. Said Boussakta
Project Dates: From October 2006 to July 2007 - Node Cooperation for Fixed Wireless Access
Project Leader(s): Prof. R Carrasco, Dr S Le Goff
Project Dates: From January 2007 to December 2009 - Nondestructive Evaluation (NDE) Using Evanescent Waves and Metamaterials
Project Leader(s): Prof. G.Y. Tian
Project Dates: From September 2011 to October 2011 - Novel Sensing Networks for Intelligent Monitoring (Newton)
Project Leader(s): Prof. G.Y. Tian
Project Dates: From July 2012 to June 2016 - OFDM Based New Transform with BER Performance Improvement across Multipath Transmission
Project Leader(s): Prof. Said Boussakta
Project Dates: From May 2010 to June 2010 - Pervasive Mobile Environmental Sensor Grids
Project Leader(s): Prof. P Blythe
Project Dates: From October 2006 to September 2009 - POSCOM
Project Leader(s): Prof. O.R. Hinton
Project Dates: From August 2000 to August 2002 - Pulsed Eddy Current for Multilayer Defect and Corrosion Characterisation
Project Leader(s):
Project Dates: From August 2007 to October 2007 - Pulsed Eddy Current for Pipleline Integrity for Radix 2
Project Leader(s): Prof. Gui Yun Tian
Project Dates: from 1st July 2016 to 5th December 2016 - Pulsed Eddy Current Stimulated Thermographic NDE
Project Leader(s): Prof Gui Tian
Project Dates: From May 2008 to April 2010 - Robust Bidirectional Communications for UUVs
Project Leader(s): Prof. O.R. Hinton
Project Dates: From April 1997 - Robust Intelligent Lamp Post (ILP) Sensor Networks for Energy Efficient Transportation Systems.
Project Leader(s): Prof M.C. Bell
Project Dates: From November 2011 to October 2012
Our pioneering research in underwater acoustic communication and positioning technology has been commercialised via 4 industrial partners (Blueprint Subsea, Tritech, Succorfish and WSENSE). An example of this is the Seatrac range of products manufactured under licence by Blueprint Subsea which is being used worldwide for communication/navigation of underwater vehicles and divers.
Recent innovations have enabled vast reduction in cost, energy consumption, sound emission and size whilst maximising data rate and range. This is helping to realise the “Internet of Underwater Things” - large scale, bio-friendly subsea networks deployed for marine environment and security monitoring (https://research.ncl.ac.uk/usmart/). This work is also contributing to emerging standards for underwater acoustic communication.
Advances in artificial intelligence and machine learning have led to new systems that can transform healthcare. Our research is helping to understand health risks, predicting disease progress and health interventions for improved patient outcome.
Our research and expertise of image processing is proving invaluable and has had a huge impact in supporting healthcare professions. Our ongoing research with the Ophthalmology Department at the Royal Victoria Infirmary have produced a novel segmentation framework for detection of raised intracranial pressure/problems of the central nervous system.
Dr Will Innes consultant Medical Ophthalmologist
“Artificial intelligence has already made promising moves towards revolutionising the way we give and receive healthcare. Ophthalmology is one of the areas that has seen the most progress and algorithms have already proven successful in replacing and enhancing various roles performed by eye doctors.”
Dr Jeff Hogg NIHR Academic Clinical Fellow in Ophthalmology
“Collaborating with professor Dlay and his team has allowed us to capitalise on the large real world datasets at Newcastle Eye Centre to explore fresh avenues for innovation and ultimately patient benefit.”
We conduct pioneering research in full-duplex based communications leading to potentially doubling the throughput in bandlimited propagation media such as the underwater acoustic channel. The ongoing research is supported by ATLAS Elektronik UK, Teledyne, DSTL and NATO.
Read more about at https://research.ncl.ac.uk/fduac/
Researchers at Newcastle University, in combination with an international consortium that includes University College London (UK), the London Centre for Nanotechnology (UK), the Polish Academy of Sciences (Poland) and the Institute for the Study of Nanostructured Materials (Italy), have made significant advances in applications of polymer light-emitting diodes to next generation internet connectivity.
They demonstrated, through combined expertise across the materials, organic semiconductors, communications and digital signal processing domains, long wavelength polymer light-emitting diodes used in an information transmission capacity, for the first time. The landmark study solves a major and longstanding issue in producing efficient red and infrared (650-800 nm) polymer light-emitting diodes, which is important due to their ultra-low processing costs and the absence of heavy-metals.
Introducing the additional far red/near infrared spectral range unlocks a series of important and previously unavailable applications that will lead to impact across numerous domains. The most important of which is connected health, where data enabled far red/near-infrared implantable sensors will enable simple and effective data readout that was previously impossible due to absorbance at lower wavelengths.
At Newcastle University, real time digital signal processing and electronics were developed to drive the polymer light-emitting diodes and transmit signals across a free-space link. A data rate of ~2.2 Mb/s was realised, a world record in terms of fully real time links, based on an information transmission method that has been heavily developed and studied at Newcastle University.
The research was supported by a combination of funding, including the UK-based EPSRC and the Royal Society.
Partners (links):
- ISC: https://www.ncl.ac.uk/engineering/research/eee/isc/
- UCL (organic semiconductors): www.cmmp.ucl.ac.uk/~fc/OS/index.shtml
- UCL (information engineering): https://www.ucl.ac.uk/iccs/
- LCN: https://www.london-nano.com/
- PAS: https://institution.pan.pl/
- ISNM: https://www.cnr.it/en/institute/095/institute-of-nanostructured-materials-ismn
Teaching
Taught Programmes
From day one, our Electrical and Electronic Engineering Undergraduate Programmes give students a path to become a professional engineer addressing major global challenges.
Our Electrical and Electronic Engineering Postgraduate Taught (MSc) Programmes equip students with the advanced skills and expertise to help shape the world.
We often have new vacancies within our team. Check out Newcastle University vacancies for current opportunities.
We actively seek and recruit high-quality research students and several funded PhD studentships are available for Home and EU prospective students. The University also offers scholarships for the very best international students.
The group dedicated state-of-the-art facilities to enable transfer of theoretical research conducted within the group to technological advancement and industrial application. The facilities include:
- The Intelligent Sensing laboratory that was built in 2016 and equipped with £0.75M funding from Newcastle University Vice-Chancellor’s office to facilitate cross-disciplinary work and provide solutions to many multi-sensor data acquisition and interpretation problems from various thematic areas such healthcare engineering and security.
- The Sensors, Electromagnetics and Acoustics Lab (SEALAB), which is dedicated to enable world leading research in wireless sensor systems and communications within extreme environments equipped with lab facilities worth over £2M.
- The Sensor Systems and NDE lab, established to support research in the field of electromagnetic non-destructive testing and evaluation.
- The Communications Lab and Anechoic Chamber, designed to foster research in wireless communications equipped with state-of-the-art measurement facilities such as a massive MIMO 5G base station worth over £650k.
Academic: Cambridge University, Imperial College, Leeds University, Sheffield University, Manchester University, University of Bath, Warwick, Lancaster University, Queen's University of Belfast, University of California, USA, Sidney University, Australia, Southwest Jiaotong University China, Queen Mary University of London, Queen's University Belfast, Institute of Molecular Medicine USA, Regional Hospitals, Technical University of Cartagena
Industrial: Cambridge Broadband Ltd, BAE, Tritech International, HW Communications, Rinicom Ltd, Shlumberger, BT Medical, Foster Findlay, QinetiQ, e-Therapeutics, Torridon, Nortel, Rolls Royce, Alstom Power, Cross-Government Departments, British Energy, The Welding Institute (TWI), Bioinnovel, Photon fire, National Physical Laboratory (NPL), RWE nPower.
We are keen to keep in touch with our alumni and maintain relationships. Contact a member of the Group directly to keep us informed of your activities.
Head of Group
Email: charalampos.tsimenidis@ncl.ac.uk
- Telephone: +44 (0) 191 208 5965
- Address: School of Engineering, Room E2.15, Merz Court, Newcastle University, Newcastle upon Tyne NE1 7RU