Real time definition of training processes using augmented reality sensors

The College of Engineering & Technology has an opportunity for a Full-Time Post Graduate Research Studentship.

We are looking for an interested postgraduate student (PhD) who is highly motivated and enjoys independent and unusual research.

This is a unique opportunity to work with Bloc Digital, a leading company in in immersive technology. Bloc specialises in the creation & re-use of digital information. They are leaders in immersive technology and produce innovative digital solutions for large blue chip companies globally. Solutions vary from marketing support materials through to highly immersive virtual training simulations. Bloc Digital deliver AR, VR, PC and mobile based solutions to enable rapid insights and ensure the right outcome at the right time.

The research will aim to capturing in near real-time the actions of a Subject Matter Expert (SME) performing an engineering task to be repeated by students. This is to create a process model of the actions performed that can be uploaded to a VR training solution.

The project will require a mixture of field work and office based research. The work would require the researcher to attend a customer site and fully instrument and record the training activities of an SME. Initial attempts would require laboratory-type environments before progressing to shop-floor conditions.

In parallel to the experimental field work, the development of the system will be carried out in accordance with industrial software design processes, collaborating closely with Bloc’s software architects and the University of Derby research community. It is expected the researcher will split their time between the Bloc site and the University.

The project is for 3 years, and starts in January 2020 or in the next available intake.

The successful applicant will be awarded a bursary for living expenses of £15,009. Tuition fees will be covered up to the Home/EU level only. Please note, if your application is successful and you are assessed as Overseas for fees purposes, you will need to pay the difference between the Home/EU fees and the Overseas fees.

Closing date for applications: Wednesday 27 November 2019.

Interviews to take place during week commencing W/C 2nd December 2019. If you have not heard from us by the interview date, please assume that on this occasion your application has not been successful.

This PhD opportunity is part of the “Productivity through Innovation” programme, funded by the European Regional Development Fund. Productivity Through Innovation aims to encourage a culture of innovation and enable businesses to improve their competitiveness and productivity through utilising the knowledge, technology and skills of the University of Derby.

Productivity Through Innovation is a collaboration between the University of Derby, University of Nottingham and Nottingham Trent University.

To Apply
For general information on how to apply and required documentation go to www.derby.ac.uk/research/degrees/apply.

Completed applications should be submitting via our Online Application system at https://www.derby.ac.uk/services/admissions/apply-online-research/ quoting funding reference E&T_AugmentedReality_PGRS_1119

For other enquires which are subject–specific please contact: Ashiq Anjum, Professor of Distributed Systems at [Email Address Removed]