Program

Zbynek Raida graduated at Brno University of Technology in 1991 (MSc) and 1994 (PhD). His academic activities comprise research and teaching at Brno University of Technology (since 1994), Université Catholique de Louvain (1996-97), Metropolitan University Prague (2015-19) and University of Defense (2021-22). His industrial experience covers wireless chips applications at NXP Semiconductors (2023-26) and SATCOM applications at URC Systems (since 2026). Professional interests are focused on applied electromagnetics, numerical modeling, optimization and applied artificial intelligence. Combining approaches together, the development of a general EMC certification procedure has been started.

Abstract title: Can AI replace EMC measurements?

Abstract: Current electromagnetic simulators allow us to crease efficient, accurate and reliable numerical models of complicated electronic systems. Thanks to precise measurements, numerical models can be calibrated and verified. In the definition space, the model can represent a real equipment with a reasonable accuracy.

The verified numerical models can replicate selected EMC tests. To cover European (ETSI), North-American (FCC), Japanese (ARIB) and Chinese (MIIT) markets with minimum measurements, requirements defined by partial standards are described by unified YAML files. A neural classifier can compare files contents, can select the most severe conditions and confront simulations with experiments. If the simulation meets the most severe conditions, then the device can pass the certification in an accredited test house with a high probability.

AI does not replace EMC tests but saves time, money and efforts.

IEEE Fellow Frank Leferink has been with THALES in the Netherlands since 1984, where he is Director EMC and responsible for the EMC activities for radar systems and naval platforms.

He is also manager of the Network of Excellence for EMC of the THALES group.

THALES is sponsoring his part-time, full-research, professor position at the University of Twente, where Frank is holding the Chair for EMC. Fourteen PhD researchers, three assistant-professors and four post-docs are currently active in the EMC group.

Frank is Vice-President Conferences of the IEEE EMC Society and associate editor of the IEEE Transactions on EMC and the IEEE Letters on EMC Practice and Applications.

Abstract title: EMC, an important issue

Abstract: In 2018, an electrically powered transport vehicle for children, the Stint, crashed at a railway level crossing. Four children died in the accident. The driver and another child were seriously injured. The Netherlands Forensic Institute concluded that the cause of the accident was either driver error or an EMC problem.

We conducted extensive research on the Stint on behalf of the Public Prosecution Service, but were never able to publish our findings due to the ongoing criminal investigation.

Our verdict: the Stints do not meet the essential requirements of the EMC Directive (the vehicle was exempt from the Automotive Directive, thus the EMC Directive is applicable). This is because the manufacturer did not perform a (mandatory) risk analysis and did not apply any of the interference suppression measures recommended by the manufacturer of the control computer. These measures include a shielded cable, a shielded housing, cable separation, filtering, and redundant speed control. None of these measures were applied. Actually, they did not even perform any analysis, nor any test. None.

Analyses revealed that there were interference-sensitive parts. With direct injection, the vehicle proved to be highly susceptible to interference. Subsequently, measurements were repeated in an anechoic chamber and a reverberation chamber. During our research, the wheels of the Stint accelerated, and sometimes suddenly rotated backwards (up to maximum speed) and then forwards again, without the direction switch or speed control being operated.

In this presentation, I will explain what was done during the research and what lessons we, as EMC specialists, should draw.