Apply Now: www.vacancies.ed.ac.uk ; Reference: 046991 ; Closing Date 18th March 2019
Operations in hostile environments–such as those found in Nuclear Decommissioning, Oil and Gas, Mining, and Space–require the execution of sophisticated tasks. Examples of these tasks are: building structures, and deploying tools for inspection, lifting, and cutting. These environments pose a significant risk to the health and safety of manual workers. The safety of personnel can be mitigated by the use of autonomous robotic systems which can perform the required tasks in these extreme environments.
These environments present the following challenges:
- Hazardous working environments requiring protective equipment and limited time windows for operation
- Limited access through which to deploy the systems
- Unstable structures present that prevent occupation
- Lifting of heavy objects (~50kg) that require mechanical assistance
- Processing of large volumes of liquids (1000s litres)
The Connect-R team propose to develop an industrial-scale self-building modular robotic solution to provide access to work-sites in these hazardous environments.
There are five Post Doctoral Research Associate positions available within The Stokes Research Group, and the successful post-holders will contribute to the Connect-R project within the Institute for Integrated Micro and Nano Systems and the Edinburgh Centre for Robotics at the University of Edinburgh. The Connect-R project is funded by Innovate UK and in collaboration with colleagues at Barrnon, Ross Robotics, Jigsaw Structures, Tharsus, UK Atomic Energy Authority, and Royal Holloway London/MIT.
These PDRAs will work in one of the following five areas:
- PDRA 1.) Development and translation of pneumatic/hydraulic control from soft robotic systems onto a scaled-up hydraulic control system.
- PDRA 2.) Systems engineering throughout the life-cycle of the project. Including development of a systems-interface based upon the Robot Operating System.
- PDRA 3.) Mechanical engineering design and fabrication, including structural design/analysis and CAD design/FEM.
- PDRA 4.) Prototyping and development engineering, this post is key to the rapid de-risk of the project and in proof-of concept and ideation.
- PDRA 5.) Robotics and simulation engineering, this post will enable the translation of academic robotics and simulation expertise into the industrial setting.
The Edinburgh PDRAs will work as part of a team of engineers and project managers to deliver the Connect-R vision. The post will involve domestic and international travel and spending up to 50% of their time on-site with the lead company, Barrnon at their headquarters in Cumbria.
The ideal candidates will have a good undergraduate degree and a PhD in Electronics and Electrical Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, Robotics, Systems Engineering or a clearly related area, with a focus on the design, build and test of complex machines, or a closely related area. Practical experience of working in the robotics or manufacturing industry is desirable. The posts are full time and fixed term for 18 months extendable to the end of the project.
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