Research Interests

•  Antennas and propagation           
•  Biomedical engineering employing RF techniques
•  Radio frequency communication systems

Current and past projects

• Energy efficiency in cellular networks
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• Antenna designs for MIMO systems
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• Design of pattern reconfigurable antennas
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• Wireless sensor networks for detection  of faults on oil and gas pipes

• WCDMA for Air to Ground and Ground to Air communications

• Non-destructive testing using eddy current techniques

        

• Outputs
• Journals
• S. Majidnia, R. Nilavalan and J. Rudlin, A numerical study of the depth of penetration of eddy currents, Insight: Non-Destructive Testing and Condition Monitoring Journal, Vol. 58, No. 3, pp. 129 - 134, Mar. 2016
• S Majidnia, J Rudlin and R Nilavalan, Investigations on a Pulsed Eddy Current System for Flaw Detection Using an Encircling Coil on a Steel Pipe", Insight Journal, Vol. 56, No. 10, pp. 560-565, Oct. 2014
• S Majidnia, C Schneider, J Rudlin and R Nilavalan, A method of determining eddy current instrument response from models, Insight - Non-Destructive Testing and Condition Monitoring, Volume 56, Number 2, pp. 82-86, Feb. 2014

• Mobile Ad-Hoc Networks
• Outputs
• Journals
• S. M. Khan, R. Nilavalan, A. Sallama, A Novel Approach for Reliable Route Discovery in Mobile Ad-Hoc Network, Wireless Personal Communications, Springer, Mar. 2015. ((http://link.springer.com/article/10.1007%2Fs11277-015-2461-8)

• Manipulation of out of phase EM waves for antenna gain enhancement

  

                                  

• Metamaterials for antenna designs

 

     

• Wireless Audio Networking
• Outputs
• Journals
• C. Chousidis, R. Nilavalan and A. Floros, Enhancement of IEEE 802.11 in handling multiple broadcasting audio data in wireless ad-hoc networks, Journal of the Audio Engineering Society (special issue on audio networking), Vol. 61 (4), pp. 165 – 173, Apr. 2013
• C. Chousidis, R. Nilavalan, Modifying the IEEE 802.11 MAC to improve performance of multiple broadcasting of multimedia data in wireless ad-hoc networks, International Journal of Advanced Computer Science and Applications(IJACSA), Special Issue on Extended Papers from Science and Information Conference 2013

• Antenna designs on transparent films

    

• Outputs
• Journals
• T. Peter, T. A. Rahman, S. W. Cheung, R. Nilavalan, H. F. AbuTarboush and A. Vilches, A Novel Transparent UWB Antenna for Photovoltaic Solar Panel Integration and RF Energy Harvesting, IEEE Transactions on Antennas and Propagations, Vol.  62, No 4, 1844-1853, Apr. 2014
• T. Peter, R. Nilavalan, H. F. AbuTarboush, and S.W. Cheung, Novel Technique and Soldering Method to Improve Performance of Transparent Polymer Antennas, IEEE Antennas and Wireless Propagation Letters, Vol. 9, p918-921, Sep. 2010

• Electronic System Modelling
• Outputs
• Journals
• T. Parthipan, P. Mudge, R. Nilavalan, W. Balachandran “Design and analysis of an ultrasonic NDT instrumentation through system modelling”, International Journal of Modern Engineering, Volume 12, Number 1, Fall/Winter 2011, pp. 88 – 97, 2011

• Control techniques for Radio Frequency Micro Electromechanical Switches (RF-MEMS)
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• Outputs
• Book Chapters

• M. Spasos and R. Nilavalan, Ohmic RF-MEMS control, In: A Tiwari and B. Raj (ed.) Materials and Failures in MEMS and NEMS, Wiley – Scrivener Publishing, pp. 239 – 262, Sept. 2015. (ISBN: 978-1-119-08360-3)

• Journals
• M. Spasos and R. Nilavalan, Resistive damping implementation as a method to improve controllability in stiff ohmic RF-MEMS switches, Springer, Microsystems Technologies, Volume 19, Issue 12, pp. 1935-1943, Dec. 2013
• M. Spasos, N. Charalampidis, K. Tsiakmakis and R. Nilavalan, An easy to control all-metal in-line-series ohmic RF-MEMS switch, Journal of Analogue Integrated Circuits and Signal Processing, Springer, Vol. 71, Issue 1, pp. 21-28, Apr. 2012
• M. Spasos and R. Nilavalan, On the investigation of a reliable actuation control method for ohmic RF MEMS switches, Elsevier - Microelectronics journal, Vol. 42, No 11, pp. 1239-1251, Nov. 2011
• M. Spasos, K. Tsiakmakis, N. Charalampidis and R. Nilavalan, RF-MEMS Switch actuation pulse optimization using Taguchi’s method, Springer, Microsystems Technologies, Vol. 17, Issue 8, pp. 1351-1359, Aug. 2011 
• M. Spasos, R. Nilavalan, K. Tsiakmakis, N. Charalampidis and S. W. Cheung,, Optimization of a 12GHz microstrip antenna array using Taguchi’s method, Hindawi, International Journal of Antennas and Propagation, vol.2011

• Design of novel frequency reconfigurable antennas

 

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• Outputs
• Journals
• H. F. Abutarboush, R. Nilavalan, S. W. Cheung and K. Nasr, Compact Printed Multiband Antenna with Independent Setting Suitable for Fixed and Reconfigurable Wireless Communication Systems, IEEE Transactions on Antennas and Propagations, Vol. 60, No. 8, pp. 3867 – 3874, Aug. 2012
• H. F. Abutarboush, H. Nasif, R. Nilavalan and S. W. Cheung, Multiband and Wideband Monopole Antenna for GSM900 and Other Wireless Applications, IEEE Antennas and Wireless Propagation Letters, Vol. 11, pp. 539 - 542 May 2012
• H. F. Abutarboush, R. Nilavalan, S. W. Cheung, K. M. Nasr, T. Peter, and D. Budimir, A Reconfigurable Wideband and Multiband Antenna Using Dual-Patch Elements for Compact Wireless Devices, IEEE Transactions on Antennas and Propagation, Vol. 60, No. 1, pp. 36-43, Jan. 2012
• H. F. AbuTarboush, R. Nilavalan, S. W. Cheung, K. M. Nasr, H. S. Al-Raweshidy, T. Peter, and D. Budimir  Reconfigurable Tri-Band H-Shaped Antenna with Frequency Selectivity Feature for Compact Wireless Communication Systems, IET Proceedings - Microwaves Antennas and Propagation, Vol. 5, Issue 14, pp. 1675-1682, Nov. 2011
• H. F. AbuTarboush, R. Nilavalan, T. Peter and S. Cheung, "Multiband Inverted-F Antenna with Independent Bands for Small and Slim Mobile Handsets," IEEE Transactions on Antennas and Propagation, Vol. 59, No. 7, pp. 2636 – 2645, Jul. 2011

• Application of MIMO techniques for coverage enhancement in DVB-T networks

 

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• Outputs:
• Journals
• R. Di Bari, M. Bard, A. Arrinda, P. Ditto, J. Cosmas and R. Nilavalan “Measurement Campaign on Transmit Delay Diversity for Mobile DVB-T/H Systems” IEEE Transactions on Broadcasting, Vol. 56, n 3, p369-378, Sep 2010
• R. Di Bari, M. Bard, Y. Zhang, K.M. Nasr, J. Cosmas, R. Nilavalan, K.K. Loo , H. Shirazi, K. Krishnapillai, “Results of a Laboratory Measurement Campaign of DVB-T Signals with Transmit Delay Diversity”,  IEEE Transactions on Broadcasting, v 54, n 3, p 532-541, Sep. 2008

• Breast cancer tumour detection using microwave radar techniques

 

• Outputs:
• Patent: 
• I. J. Craddock, A. Preece, R. Nilavalan, J. Leendertz, R. Benjamin and F. J. Wilson, Methods and apparatus for measuring the internal structure of an object, EP 1850743 B1 – Patents in EU & Japan, (US Patent Application Number: 20080071169 pending)
• Journals: 
• R. Nilavalan, I. J. Craddock, A. Preece, J. Leendertz and R. Benjamin, “Wideband Microstrip Patch Antenna Design for Breast Cancer Tumour Detection”,  IET Proceedings - Microwaves Antennas and Propagation, vol. 1, pp 277-281, Apr. 2007
• R. Nilavalan, A. Gbedemah, I. J. Craddock, X. Li and S. C. Hagness, “Numerical Investigation of Breast Tumour Detection using Multi-Static Radar”, Electronics Letters, vol. 39, pp 1787-1789. Dec 2003

• Performance enhancements for non-orthogonal Finite Difference Time Domain methods (FDTD)
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• Outputs:
• Journals
• R. Nilavalan and I. J. Craddock, “Interpolation/Averaging in Non-orthogonal FDTD Algorithm”, Microwaves and Optical technology Letters, Vol. 50, No. 4, pp. 846 – 851, April 2008
• R. Nilavalan, I. J. Craddock and C. J. Railton, “Quantifying numerical dispersion in non-orthogonal FDTD meshes”, IEE Proceedings-Microwaves Antennas & Propagation, vol.149, no.1, pp.23-27, Feb. 2002
• R. Nilavalan, I. J. Craddock, D. L. Paul and C. J. Railton, “Conformal antenna array modelling using a locally non-orthogonal FDTD”, Microwave & Optical Technology Letters, vol.30, no.4, pp.238-40, Aug. 2001
• R. Nilavalan, I. J. Craddock and C. J. Railton. “Practical method for the determination of time step in non-orthogonal FDTD”, Electronics Letters, vol.37, no.11, pp.679-80, May. 2001

• Land mine detection using real apperture synthetically organised radar

 

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• Outputs:
• Journals
• R. Benjamin, I. J. Craddock, G. S. Hilton, S. Litobarski, E. McCutcheon, R. Nilavalan and G. N. Crisp, “Microwave detection of buried mines using non-contact, synthetic near-field focusing”, IEE Proceedings: Radar, Sonar & Navigation, vol.148, no.4, pp.233-240, Aug. 2001
• R. Nilavalan, G. S. Hilton and R. Benjamin, “Wideband printed bowtie antenna element development for post reception synthetic focusing surface penetrating radar”, Electronics Letters, vol.35, no.20, pp.1771-2, Sep. 1999
• R. Benjamin, G. Hilton, S. Litobarski, E. McCutcheon and R. Nilavalan, “Post-detection synthetic near field focusing in radar or sonar”, Electronics Letters, vol.35, no.8, pp.664-6, Apr. 1999