AI for smart spacecraft control (Ref: NUDATA24-R/EE/MPEE/WICKS)

Overview of the CDT

This project is being offered as part of the STFC Centre for Doctoral Training in Data Intensive Science, called NUdata, which is a collaboration between Northumbria and Newcastle Universities, STFC, and a portfolio of over 40 industrial partners, including SMEs, large/multinational companies, Government and not-for profit organisations, and international humanitarian organisations. Please visit https://research.northumbria.ac.uk/nudata/ for full information.

Project description

Satellite mega-constellations are planned for many different applications, however they all have one thing in common, there must be a way to control the very large number of satellites automatically to maintain safe orbits and close formation flying. The traditional way of managing satellite control is to have a large team of people in a ‘mission control’ monitoring each satellite as it operates and testing every command before it is sent to make sure that the satellite will respond as intended. This is not possible when there are many tens to even thousands of satellites operating as a swarm. Insead, control processes must be automated and the more of these processes that can be managed internally by the satellite itself, the better.

This project is about the use of Physics Informed Neural Networks (PINNs) to encode the laws of gravity and motion together with a limited data input, for example from all-sky cameras on satellites or the ground, to simulate automated orbit prediction and then spacecraft control to maintain a particular formation of satellites. The objective is to make a PINN that can forecast manouevres needed in advance and then implement it in as efficient a way as possible on a realistic space-grade processor so that the process could be performed onboard a satellite. This technique must be compared to existing command and control processes such as Kalman filters.

This project will particularly suit someone with an interest in control systems, AI and image analysis. The project could be taken down a more theoretical route by a candidate with a willingness to use mathematics, as the laws of motion and gravity will need to be encoded correctly; or applicants with more interest in low-level programming of processors could focus on deploying the system onto realistic hardware. Image analysis will be needed to find the tracks of satellites and so techniques like de-noising,

Academic Enquiries

This project is supervised by Professor Robert Wicks. For informal queries, please contact [Email Address Removed]. For all other enquiries relating to eligibility or application process please contact Admissions at [Email Address Removed]. 

You will join a strong and supportive research team. The very best way to get a taste of this is to come and visit the Research Group in person, meet your fellow PhD students, and meet the PhD supervisors. We have funding to support all UK National applicants who wish to visit the research group (with funding to fully cover reasonable travel and accommodation costs). Please contact Head of Group Professor James McLaughlin [Email Address Removed] if you are interested in visiting the Group, and we can arrange travel arrangement (and cover these costs). Also feel free to contact individual PhD supervisors if this is better for you.

Eligibility Requirements:

• Academic excellence i.e. 2:1 (or equivalent GPA from non-UK universities with preference for 1st class honours); or a Masters (preference for Merit or above); or APEL evidence of substantial practitioner achievement.
• Appropriate IELTS score, if required.
• Applicants cannot apply if they are already a PhD holder or if currently engaged in Doctoral study at Northumbria or elsewhere.

To be classed as a Home student, candidates must:

• Be a UK National (meeting residency requirements), or
• have settled status, or
• have pre-settled status (meeting residency requirements), or
• have indefinite leave to remain or enter.

If a candidate does not meet the criteria above, they would be classed as an International student. 

For further details on how to apply see

https://www.northumbria.ac.uk/research/postgraduate-research-degrees/how-to-apply/  

You must include the relevant advert reference/studentship code (e.g. NUDATA24-R/…) in your application.

If you are interested in more than one of the Northumbria-hosted NUdata research projects, then you can say this in the cover letter of your application and you can rank all the projects you are interested in (e.g. first choice, second choice, third choice). You are strongly encouraged to do this, since some projects are more popular than others. You only need to submit one application even if you are interested in multiple projects (we recommend you submit your application to your first choice).

Deadline for applications : 2nd June 2024

Start date of course :  23rd September 2024

Northumbria University is committed to creating an inclusive culture where we take pride in, and value, the diversity of our postgraduate research students. We encourage and welcome applications from all members of the community. The University holds a bronze Athena Swan award in recognition of our commitment to advancing gender equality, we are a Disability Confident Leader, a member of the Race Equality Charter and are participating in the Stonewall Diversity Champion Programme. We also hold the HR Excellence in Research award for implementing the concordat supporting the career Development of Researchers and are members of the Euraxess initiative to deliver information and support to professional researchers.