Research Associate in Robot Navigation

A great opportunity has arisen for a Research Associate in Robot Navigation to join the world-leading Department of Automatic Control and Systems Engineering. The project aims to develop a new swarm robotics technology platform for buried pipe inspection which can measure the pipe conditions (e.g. leaks and blockages) and their deterioration autonomously and pervasively.

You will develop, test and integrate new robot mapping and localisation algorithms in small robots, which will be able to navigate, communicate and sense the environment while being left inside the pipe. You will support the development of a specification of the new sensing platform and signal processing algorithms to be used by the industry as the next generation of autonomous inspection solutions for buried pipes. This new technology will yield a step change in the way the buried pipes are inspected, rehabilitated and managed.

You will have the opportunity to develop new mapping and localisation algorithms for robots in pipes, simulate their performance, to integrate these algorithms with a working robot prototype and to validate their simulated performance experimentally. It is expected that the results of this work will be novel and significant to warrant their publication in world leading academic journals.

You will have strong theoretical and experimental skills, experience in robotics (or a related discipline such as control engineering or mechatronics) and have the ability to write computer code and analyse experimental data efficiently. Candidates with experience in optimisation and/or statistical estimation would also be suited to the role. You should be self-motivated, able to work both independently and as part of a large, trans-disciplinary team, and have the ability to present and communicate complex information to our partners and potential customers in a concise and clear form. You will have the opportunity to publish them in top peer reviewed  journals.

You will hold a PhD (or be close to completion) in Engineering, Physics, Computing, Mathematics or related discipline.

We’re one of the best not-for-profit organisations to work for in the UK. The University’s Total Reward Package includes a competitive salary, a generous Pension Scheme and annual leave entitlement, as well as access to a range of learning and development courses to support your personal and professional development.

We build teams of people from different heritages and lifestyles from across the world, whose talent and contributions complement each other to the greatest effect. We believe diversity in all its forms delivers greater impact through research, teaching and student experience.

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Apply now by clicking on the Apply button above.

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