High Data Accurate Positioning And Governing Robots Using Hybrid Data

Duration: 3 years Fixed Term

Application deadline: This opportunity will only remain open until a suitable candidate is identified- early application is therefore advised. Standard University research application closing dates apply: http://www.coventry.ac.uk/research/research-students/application-dates/

Informal enquiries are essential before application; contact Professor Jim Tabor to discuss this opportunity.

Congratulations on taking your first steps toward a Research Degree with Coventry’s Faculty of Engineering and Computing. As an ambitious and innovative University, we’re investing an initial £100m into our new research strategy, ‘Excellence with Impact’ (http://www.coventry.ac.uk/research/about-research-at-coventry/). Through original approaches from world-leading experts, we’re aiming for our research to make a tangible difference to the way we live. As a research student you are an integral part of Coventry’s lively and diverse research community and contribute to our reputation for excellence. With our exceptional facilities and superb support mechanisms (http://www.coventry.ac.uk/research/research-students/research-studentships/research-studentships-the-benefits/) you are afforded every opportunity for academic success.

THE PROJECT
Metrology guidance of robots in industrial applications offers the benefit of greatly increased positional accuracy. There is a wealth of commercially available coordinate metrology systems (CMS) that could be deployed in real-time robot control applications, but often the data rate available from these instruments (10s to 100s points per second) is insufficient for real-time control which requires positional feedback at a rate of 1000s of points per second. This project aims to develop methods of merging high-accuracy, low-rate data from a CMS, with high-rate, lower accuracy data from a robot to produce a hybrid data stream suitable for high-accuracy real-time control.

ABOUT THE CENTRE/DEPARTMENT
Our research in Manufacturing and Materials Engineering (http://www.coventry.ac.uk/research/areas-of-research/manufacturing-materials-engineering/) builds on our historic research strengths at Coventry, and adds new research teams through investment and growth. It integrates seamlessly with the Institute for Advanced Manufacturing and Engineering, our flagship collaboration with Unipart Manufacturing.

This area of research will take a holistic approach to fabrication and manufacturing, focusing on the three strands of Materials, Processes, and Products; and underpinned by our expertise in Metrology and Advanced Experimentation.

We aim to be the research partner of choice for manufacturing industry in adding value, effecting knowledge transfer, generating intellectual property, and raising new technologies from concept up through the Manufacturing Readiness Levels.

Our summary research themes:
- Process Control / Product Verification
- Advanced Metrology and Experimentation
- Supply Chain Management
- Materials for Advanced Technologies
- Integrated Product Enhancement

SUCCESSFUL APPLICANTS

Successful applicants will have:
- A minimum of a 2:1 first degree in a relevant discipline/subject area with a minimum 60% mark in the Project element or equivalent with a minimum 60% overall module average,or
- A Masters Degree in a relevant subject area will be considered as an equivalent. The Masters must have been attained with overall marks at merit level (60%). In addition, the dissertation or equivalent element in the Masters must also have been attained with a mark at merit level (60%).
- The potential to engage in innovative research and to complete the PhD within a prescribed period of study.
- Language proficiency (IELTS overall minimum score of 7.0 with a minimum of 6.5 in each component).

Additionally:
- knowledge and/or experience in the subject
- a good knowledge of data acquisition technology
- experimental, modelling or analytical experience in robotic control
- experience of (or a willingness to quickly learn) about metrology, specifically optical.

ELIGIBILITY & APPLICATION PROCEDURE

Application Procedure:
Application information can be found in our how to apply section (http://www.coventry.ac.uk/research/research-students/how-to-apply/). Before completing the application please contact Professor Jim Tabor (cc'ing [Email Address Removed] when you do) for an initial informal discussion about the opportunity.

Eligibility:
All UK/EU/International students are eligible to apply that meet the academic requirements, the eligibility criteria can be found here: http://www.coventry.ac.uk/research/research-students/research-entry-criteria/