About the Project
Start Date:
5 June 2017
29 September 2017
Sponsored by EPSRC and Charge Automotive,the aim of this £14,000 (tax free) paid research project is to understand the dynamics of motion sickness and design autonomous vehicle control strategies aimed at minimising it.
You will work closely with industry (Charge Automotive) and Imperial College London’s, Faculty of Medicine, creating case studies investigating how motion sickness in passengers travelling in an autonomous vehicle can be controlled.
You will be based in Cranfield University’s Advanced Vehicle Engineering Centre in our Transport Systems theme. Your will use a prototype autonomous vehicle, our new Intelligent Mobility Engineering Centre and our newly commissioned test road for simulation studies, and the latest computing facilities.
More information below:
Cranfield Mobility Centre - https://www.cranfield.ac.uk/press/news-2016/intelligent-mobility-centre-nears-completion
Cranfield Mobility Road - https://www.cranfield.ac.uk/press/news-2015/intelligent-mobility-road-to-be-built-at-cranfield-university
Project background information:
Autonomous vehicles are a matter of when, rather than if. The commercial car, Tesla, already has an “autopilot” feature and other car manufacturer such as Ford and Volvo have promised fully autonomy within the next five years. Medical studies show that motion sickness (which affects almost everyone to some degree) will be more of an issue in self-driving vehicles than in conventional ones.
Our research question is: can we define control strategies for autonomous driving such that passengers’ motion sickness occurrences are minimised?
To answer this question we need to understand the causes of motion sickness (still unclear), identify a way to quantify this physiological process, develop a model of this process combined with a model of the dynamics of passenger vehicles and the design of appropriate vehicle longitudinal and later control strategies.
We do not exclude augmentation of standard actuation system (throttle, brake and steering) with other systems such as active seats.
This research is in collaboration with Charge Automotive Ltd and with the Faculty of Medicine at Imperial College London.
Career prospects:
Given the large government and private investments in automated driving, it is foreseen that a successful student may find a position within automotive companies and Tier 1 suppliers. On average starting salaries for PhD holders could be in the range of £45,000 - £55,000 in the UK and possibly higher in some European countries.
Entry requirements:
Applicants should have a first or second class UK honours degree or equivalent in a related discipline, such as mathematics, or engineering. The ideal candidate should have a good understanding in the area of simulation, control systems, numerical modelling using Matlab and Simulink. The candidate should be self-motivated, have good communication skills for regular interaction with other stakeholders, with an interest for industrial research.
How to apply:
For further information please contact: Dr Stefano Longo, E: [Email Address Removed], T: (0) 1234 758581
If you are eligible to apply for this research studentship, please complete the online application form
http://ccwebapps-dmz.dmz.cranfield.ac.uk/prospectuslinks/course/show.action?course=MSc+by+Research+in+Transport+Systems
For further information contact us today:
School of Aerospace, Transport and Manufacturing
T: 44 (0)1234 758008
E: [Email Address Removed], [Email Address Removed]
Funding Notes
Sponsored by EPSRC and Charge Automotive this studentship will provide a bursary of £14,000 p.a. (tax free and with potential to increase to £18,000), fees* for three years, plus travel to national and international conferences.
* To be eligible for this funding, applicants must be a UK national or comply with EPSRC’s regulations. Due to funding restrictions, all EU nationals are eligible to receive a fees-only award if they do not have “settled status” in the UK.
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