Representative Publications
• van Niekerk T., Le Roux V, 1994. Control/SPC software for bore and outside measuring apparatus for ball bearings, Conference Proceedings of the International Conference: Intelligent Systems of the AMSE, Pretoria, September, pp265-272.
• van Niekerk T, Thomas T. 1994. Knowledge Acquisition in a Manufacturing Environment, Conference Proceedings of the International Conference: Intelligent Systems of the AMSE, Pretoria, September, pp346-358.
• van Niekerk T, Fourie C. 1995. Manufacturing Knowledge Acquisition and Utilization by Means of Expert Systems, Proceedings of the 13th International Conference on Production Research, Jerusalem, August, pp44-46.
• Van Niekerk T, du Toit R, 1998, Developing a Skills Orientated Course in Engineering Software Principles for a Changing Technologist Environment, 4th WFTO International Symposium on Technology Education and Training: On the Threshold, 27 June - 1 July 1998.
• van Niekerk T. I., Katz Z, Huang J., 1999, Integration of Human Knowledge and Sensor Fusion for Machining, Proceedings of 2nd International Conference on Information Fusion, California USA, pp.1107-1112.
• van Niekerk T.I., Katz Z., Huang J., 2000, Analysis and Implementation Aspects of Intelligent Machining, International Conference on Manufacturing Systems for the New Millennium, Hong Kong. 2000
• van Niekerk T. I., Katz Z., Huang J., 2001, Monitoring of Machining Process Based on Intelligent Diagnosis by Using a Fuzzy Relation, International Conference on Agile, Reconfigurable Manufacturing, Michigan, USA
• Van Niekerk et al, 1999, VRML to Monitor and Control an Industrial Robot via the Internet, Proceedings of IEEE Africon 99, Cape Town.
• Van Niekerk T.I., Katz Z., Huang J., 1999, Integration of Human Knowledge and Sensor Fusion for Machining, Proceedings of the 2nd International Conference on Information Fusion (Fusion'99). Sunnyvale, CA, 6-8 July, 1999.
• Van Niekerk T.I., Katz Z., Huang J., 2000, Analysis and Implementation Aspects of Intelligent Machining, International Conference on Manufacturing Systems for the New Millennium, Hong Kong.
• Kruger G.H.; van Niekerk T.I.; Blignault C.; Hattingh D.G., 2004, Software Architecture for Real-time Sensor Analysis and Control of a Friction Stir Welding Process, IEEE Africon 2004, September, Gaborone, Botswana
• Van Niekerk T.I., Hua T., Hattingh D.G., 2006, A Neuro-Fuzzy Scheme for Process Control During Complex Curvature Friction Stir Welding, 112th IFAC Symposium on Information Control Problems in Manufacturing, Saint-Etienne, France.
• Van Niekerk T.I., Hua T., Mafara K.E., 2007, Adaptive Fuzzy Force Regulation in Friction Stir Welding Process, International Conference on Competitive Manufacturing – COMA’07: The Challenge of Digital Manufacturing, 31 Jan – 2 Feb, University of Stellenbosch, South Africa.
• van Niekerk T.I., Buys S., 2013, Genetic Algorithm for Artificial Neural Network Training for the Purpose of Automated Part Recognition, International Conference on Competitive Manufacturing COMA 13, IISBN Nr:: 978-0-7972-1405-7, 30 Jan – 1 Feb, University of Stellenbosch, pp.235-242.
• Mercorelli P., Werner N., Becker U., Harndorf H., van Niekerk T.I., 2014, Digital Control of a Camless Engine Using Lyapunov Approach with Backward Euler Approximation, IFAC, Cape Town.
• Mercorelli P., Werner N., van Niekerk T., Behre L., Becker U., 2015, Switching Cascade Controllers Combined with a Feedforward Regulation for an Aggregate Actuator in Automotive Applications, 2015 Pattern Recognition Association of South Africa and Robotics and Mechatronics International Conference (PRASA-RobMech) November 26-27, Port Elizabeth, South Africa.
• Zindove T., van Niekerk T., Wilm T., Mercorelli P., 2015, Development of a temperature controlled weathering test box to evaluate the life cycle behaviour of interior automotive components, IFAC Conference on Programmable Devices and Embedded Systems, 13-14 May, Poland, ISSN: 2405-8963.
• van Niekerk, T. & Fernandes, J. – “Effective methods for Learning Functional Safety within Automated Manufacturing Systems”. Submitted to the International Conference on Competitive Manufacturing (COMA), Cape Town, South Africa, February 2016.
• John Fernandes, Theo van Niekerk, Ngonidzashe Zata, A Web Based Learning Platform for Remote Engineering Laboratories, SASEE Fourth Biennial Conference, 13-15 June 2017, Cape Town.
• van Niekerk T.I., Katz Z., 2003, Implementation Aspects of Intelligent Machining, International Journal of Engineering Manufacture: Proceedings of the Institution of Mechanical Engineers Part B, UK.
• van Niekerk, T.I., Hattingh D.G., 2004, Multi-Sensor Fusion Model for On-line Surface Roughness Prediction, Research and Development Journal, 20 (2) incorporated into the SA Mechanical Engineer, July.
• T.I. van Niekerk1, T. Hua2 and D.G. Hattingh1 , 2007, Experimental Implementation of Complex Curvature Friction Stir Welding, R & D Journal, 2007, Volume 23 , Number 2, July, South African Institution of Mechanical Engineering
• van Niekerk T.I., D.G. Hattingh, T. Hua, and J-Q. Wang, 2008, Knowledge-based robot vision system for automated part handling, June, South African Journal of Industrial Engineering, ISSN 1012-277X,
• Vusisizwe Mancapa, T.I van Niekerk, and T. Hua, 2009, A Genetic Algorithm for the Two Dimensional Strip Packing Problems, South African Journal of Industrial Engineering, SAIIE, Vol 20, No 2, November 2009, ISSN 1012-277X.
• Kranz J., van Niekerk T.I., Holdack-Janssen H., Gruhler G., 2011, Automotive Thermal Comfort Control – A Blackbox Approach, South African Institute of Electrical Engineers (SAIEE) Africa Research Journal, November.
• Fernandes J.M., van Niekerk T., 2015, A programmable logic controller based laboratory -analysis of conventional and intelligent control schemes for non-linear systems, Journal for New Generation Sciences: Volume 13 Number 3.
• Cumberlege A., van Niekerk TI., 2015, Wireless fault monitoring of robotic cells using android tablet pcs within automotive production, Journal for New Generation Sciences: Volume 13 Number 3.
• Behre L., Becker U., van Niekerk T., Harndorf H., Mercorelli P., Werner N.,2015, An indirectly controlled high-speed servo valve for IC engines using piezo actuators, R & D Journal of the South African Institution of Mechanical Engineering 2015, 31, 35-45 http://www.saimeche.org.za (open access) © SAIMechE All rights reserved.
• Barnard M., van Niekerk T.I., 2018, Neural Network Fault Diagnosis System for a Diesel-Electric Locomotive’s Closed Loop Excitation Control System, South African Institute of Electrical Engineers (SAIEE) Africa Research Journal, February.
• Oliver Raffler, U. Becker, T. van Niekerk, Lucas Kohler, 2018, Novel mechatronics based highspeed piezo actuator, IFA Research Reports, ISBN: 978-3-8440-5015-8, Germany.