AI and Robotics: Fully Funded EPSRC PhD Studentship: Human-in-the-Loop Robot Control and Learning based on AI methods

Key Information

Funding provider: EPSRC DTP 25/26 Fully Funded Studentship

Subject area: AI and Robotics

Project start date: 1 October 2025 (Enrolment open from mid-September)

Supervisors:

Primary Supervisor - Dr Chunxu Li

Secondary Supervisor - Professor Cinzia Giannetti

Aligned programme of study: PhD in Mechanical Engineering

Mode of study: Full-time

Project description:

This project explores advanced Human-in-the-Loop (HITL) methodologies for robot control and learning, leveraging state-of-the-art AI techniques to enhance human-robot collaboration. Traditional autonomous robot systems often lack flexibility in dynamic and complex environments, which limits their adaptability and decision-making capabilities. By incorporating HITL mechanisms, this project aims to enable robots to learn from human feedback and improve their performance in real time.

The project focuses on developing AI-driven algorithms that allow robots to interpret human input, adapt to new tasks, and refine their actions through continuous learning. Key AI methods include reinforcement learning, neural networks, and computer vision for recognizing human gestures, feedback, and preferences. This approach has broad applications, from industrial automation to assistive robotics, where real-time adaptability and safety are critical. The goal is to create robots that act autonomously yet are responsive to human guidance, leading to more efficient, reliable, and safe human-robot interactions in various real-world settings.