About the laboratory
The Power Systems Research Lab is committed to high‑impact research in power and energy engineering. We focus on optimum use of national resources through innovative solutions that improve reliability, safety and sustainability of electrical infrastructure.
Core themes
- Modelling, operation and control of modern power systems.
- Condition monitoring and prognosis of electrical machines and generators.
- Smart‑grid ready architectures, AMI and distributed intelligence.
- Signal processing and machine learning for industrial and defence applications.
Research philosophy
- Blend theoretical rigour with lab‑scale prototyping and field validation.
- Develop indigenous, cost‑effective hardware and embedded platforms.
- Maintain strong collaboration with national industry and international partners.
Vision & mission
Our vision is to help build resilient, intelligent and sustainable power networks. We pursue cross‑disciplinary research spanning electrical machines, power systems, signal processing and automation in order to deliver solutions that are technically sound, economically viable and socially responsible.
Selected highlights
A sample of initiatives demonstrating PSRL’s scope – from smart metering and low‑carbon innovation to FPGA‑based diagnostics and industrial automation.
Indigenous AMI platform
Development of an advanced metering infrastructure solution with local hardware and algorithms, enabling secure data acquisition, tamper detection and improved power‑quality analytics.
Intellica three‑phase balancer
A startup team linked with the lab engineered a device that actively balances domestic three‑phase loads, demonstrating significant energy savings and earning international recognition.
FPGA‑based machine fault analysis
Design and deployment of FPGA‑centric algorithms for intrusive fault analysis of electrical machines, providing faster diagnostics and improved reliability in mission‑critical systems.
Research areas
PSRL addresses problems related, but not limited, to electrical machines, smart grids, industrial automation, signal processing and embedded control.
Power systems & smart grids
- Grid planning, operational analysis and protection coordination.
- Integration of renewables, storage and microgrids.
- Power‑quality enhancement and resilience studies.
Machines, drives & diagnostics
- Health monitoring and prognosis of generators and motors.
- Fault‑tolerant drives and condition‑based maintenance.
- Vibration, current and acoustic‑signature analysis.
Signal processing & embedded
- Time–frequency and statistical analysis of sensor data.
- FPGA and microcontroller platforms for real‑time control.
- Applications including sonar, security and industrial robotics.
Lab team
PSRL brings together faculty, researchers and students with expertise in power systems, signal processing, embedded systems and industrial automation.
Lab head
- Dr. Sajjad Haider Zaidi
- Professor, Department of Electrical Engineering, NUST PNEC
- Interests: power systems, electrical machines, signal processing, smart grids
- View detailed profile →
Researchers & officers
Full‑time research officers and MS/PhD scholars contribute to funded projects in transformer health monitoring, generator diagnostics, AMI and industrial automation.
Students
Undergraduate students regularly undertake final‑year projects hosted in PSRL, gaining hands‑on experience with modern tools, hardware and real industrial problems.
Achievements
A snapshot of recognitions and outcomes arising from PSRL’s projects and collaborations.
International awards
- Low‑carbon innovation award for the Intellica three‑phase load balancing device.
- Recognition for smart‑grid and AMI work through international collaborations.
Funded projects
- Projects supported by NUST and national stakeholders on smart metering and diagnostics.
- Industrial automation solutions deployed for partner organizations.
Publications & impact
- Peer‑reviewed journal and conference papers in power systems and signal processing.
- Technology transfer through prototypes, lab setups and training of engineers.