Self-Powered Sensing for Real-Time Monitoring in Industry 4.0

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Find out more: http://www.lboro.ac.uk/study/postgraduate/supporting-you/research/
Full Project Detail
Real-time monitoring is one of the key challenges in many industrial applications, including manufacturing, autonomous driving and structural health monitoring, to ensure the quality and robustness of the products, to evaluate the conditions of infrastructure or to improve the manufacturing efficiency and safety. However, when monitoring systems are distributed over a large area in a large number, power supply (chemical batteries) for wireless sensors would need replacement and/or recharging regularly, requiring human involvement, and adding inconvenience.

Converting environmental energy, such as vibration, thermal gradient or light, into electricity is one of the potential solutions to obtain a self-powered autonomous system.

This PhD research project will investigate innovate self-powered sensing solutions for the next generation manufacturing process by developing and integrating vibration energy harvesting and low-power sensing technologies. Real-time monitoring of industry systems and their specific operating conditions will be used as targeted case studies (such as renewable energy, automotive, and manufacturing). Energy harvesters and wireless sensing systems will be designed and integrated according to system requirements. Applicants should have a strong interest in energy harvesting and low-power sensing electronics.
Find out more
Personal website of Dr Hailing Fu: https://www.lboro.ac.uk/departments/meme/staff/hailing-fu/

Research Themes on Dynamics and Manufacturing (https://www.lboro.ac.uk/departments/meme/research/themes/) and the Centre of Biological Engineering (https://www.lboro.ac.uk/departments/meme/research/research-centres/cbe/) at Loughborough University.
Entry requirements
Applicants should have, or expect to achieve, at least a 2:1 Honours degree (or equivalent) in Engineering (Mechanical Engineering or Electrical and Electronic Engineering) or a related subject.

A relevant Master’s degree and/or experience in one or more of the following will be an advantage: Vibration energy harvesting, nonlinear dynamics analysis, low-power sensing electronics and electromechanical system development. A willingness to learn new skills and solve research problems is compulsory. Applicants are encouraged to informally register their interest with the primary supervisor.
How to apply
All applications should be made online at http://www.lboro.ac.uk/study/apply/research/. Under programme name, select ‘Mechanical & Manufacturing Engineering’.

Please quote reference number: SAM01/2020#2

Start date of studentship: 01 Jan 2020