Integration of Metrology with Design and Process Control in the Light Controlled Factory

This is an exciting research opportunity for a fully funded PhD Studentship linked to the Light Controlled Factory (LCF) research project that is funded by EPSRC and industry. Candidates are asked to select one of the following two PhD Topics. A related PhD is also available in the Department of Physics.
The LCF is investigating and developing novel measurement-enabled manufacturing technologies for realising the next generation of high value manufacturing factories. The vision is for the widespread adoption of novel, measurement-based techniques to provide machines and parts with aspects of temporal, spatial and dimensional self-awareness, enabling superior machine control and parts verification. The research consortium is led by the University of Bath with participation from University College London and Loughborough University, in collaboration with nine industry partners including Airbus, Airbus Defence and Space, and Rolls-Royce.

First PhD Topic – Design for Verification (Supervisor Prof Maropoulos)
This PhD topic will investigate new Design for Verification technologies in the context of the measurement enabled manufacturing of the Light Controlled Factory. The research hypothesis is that the design of future, high value products will result in superior quality products that are easily verifiable with enhanced factory flexibility and process re-configurability by adopting new “Design for Verification” techniques. The overall research aim is to develop new methods and algorithms so that designers can specify products that are suitable for rapid and in-process verification and enhanced process control. The project will seek to codify and model verification processes via the development of robust metrology models and associated process models that contain in-built measurement for verification. Generic verification planning procedures and algorithms will be generated to allow engineering specifications for mechanical products to be verified in the digital domain. The research will also develop physical verification models and algorithms for the physical testing and measurement of prototypes and production processes. The research will utilise laboratory equipment and design software available within the Laboratory for Integrated Metrology Applications of the Department of Mechanical Engineering

Second PhD Topic – Modelling and Dynamic Coupling of Measurement and Actuation (Supervisors Prof Keogh and Prof Maropoulos)
This PhD topic will deal with the integration and control in real-time of heterogeneous manufacturing processes within the modern factory. For this, it is essential to; (i) develop novel, scalable and robust metrology networks and (ii) generate a dynamic coupling model between measurement and actuation. The research challenges associated with the generation of the factory metrology network include the definition of metrology process models underpinned by algorithms for measurement uncertainty and the real-time fusion of measurement data from multiple systems. The second aspect of the research would be to investigate the closed loop, real-time integration of measurement data with actuators, to correct static and dynamic positioning errors. Centralised control algorithms will be designed to determine dynamic compensation from any multi-input (sensing) system through to a multi-output (actuation) system. The objective will be to optimise performance metrics for precision in the presence of measurement uncertainties. The research will utilise a “Measurement-enabled Robotic Assembly Cell” that is available within the Laboratory for Integrated Metrology Applications of the Department of Mechanical Engineering.