PhD Studentship in Exploring Multi-Functional Autonomous Aerial Systems in Urban Environment (RENE_U26SCI)

Primary supervisor - Dr Edwin Ren

Autonomous Aerial Systems (AASs), commonly known as drones or UAV, are rapidly advancing in capability, enabling them to perform a wide range of urban tasks such as parcel delivery and environmental sensing. Equipped with diverse onboard sensors, including cameras and GPS, delivery UAVs hold significant potential for urban sensing applications such as infrastructure inspection, traffic management, and emergency response. This underscores the feasibility of promoting the multifunctional roles of AASs by integrating delivery, mobile crowdsensing, communication, and coordination capabilities essential for operations in complex urban environments. 

With advancements in 5G mobile networks, Artificial Intelligence (AI)-driven navigation, Internet of Things (IoT) connectivity, and edge computing, AASs are evolving into smart, interconnected solutions for addressing the dynamic challenges of modern cities. This project investigates how to coordinate these multifunctional capabilities within dynamic urban settings, where delivery demands and sensing requirements fluctuate rapidly across time and space. By developing intelligent scheduling and decision-making frameworks, the research aims to enhance responsiveness, efficiency, and scalability. Leveraging the ultra-reliable, low-latency communication and high data throughput enabled by 5G networks, the study seeks to facilitate real-time coordination among aerial systems, ground infrastructure, and cloud services. Ultimately, this project aims to redefine the role of aerial systems in urban society—not only improving logistics operations but also enabling new, intelligent approaches to monitoring and supporting city life through connected, adaptive coordination. 

Entry requirements The standard minimum entry requirement is 2:1 in Chemistry, Pharmacology, Pharmacy, Pharmaceutical Science.

Mode of study Full-time 

Start date 1 October 2026

This PhD project is in a competition for a Faculty of Science funded studentship. Funding is available to UK applicants and comprises ‘home’ tuition fees and an annual stipend for 3 years.

Advert information