The MECO research team of the Mechanical Engineering Department, KU Leuven (Belgium) is looking for a young, motivated and skilled PhD researcher with a strong background in systems, control, numerical optimization and programming.
The project targets motion planning for free-roaming ground Automated Vehicles (AVs), Cartesian robotic systems actuated through linear guides such as gantries or X-Y tables, and autonomous driving functions for vehicles. The motion planning takes place in the context of complex but highly-structured environments such as greenhouses, orchards, warehouses, production halls, fields with rows of crops and on-road with layouts that change slowly, and externalities such as obstacles that change fast. The project focusses on motion planning in 2D for single systems and centralized motion planning for a couple of systems.
The project aims at developing and experimentally validating an automated motion planning research software toolbox that delivers highly performant trajectories at low computational cost (2 orders of magnitude faster than optimization-based approaches), exhibits predictable behavior, and can shape the trajectories to specific application needs (e.g., to resemble human-like behavior).
The overall technical strategy pivots around a smart subdivision: (i) graph search with motion primitives tailored to the particular motion system and layout to construct a motion corridor, (ii) fast optimal control based planning inside corridors for those portions of the plan where optimization is expected to make a significant impact.
The project features a pool of industrial partners with whom small exploration cases can be worked out.
Furthermore, the project involves demonstration of the developed algorithms on industrially-relevant lab use cases: a Beckhoff XPlanar XY-System, in-house built mobile platforms, and (off-site) an automated forklift.
This project is a team effort; your focus will lie on developing methodologies and implementing algorithms for strategy (ii), and on validation on simulators and experimental demonstrators.
Profile
MSc degree in engineering or applied mathematics. A strong background in systems and control, numerical optimization and programming (Matlab, C/C++)
A strong interest for algorithm development and experimental validation on lab setups, and enthusiasm for scientific research and its applications
Proficiency in English is a requirement and applicants whose mother tongue is neither Dutch nor English must present an official language test report
Offer
- A fully funded PhD position for four years at KU Leuven, Belgium.
- Within the MECO group, you have the opportunity to interact with and learn from colleagues who work on related topics (control, optimization, robotic systems) on separate projects.
- You will be supported by two post-doc researchers with expertise in optimal control and motion planning. One colleague at MECO will work on the same project and has experience in discrete decision making cfr. strategy (i) and programming.
- Beyond MECO, you will be able to develop cooperation and presentation skills with the Flanders Make research partner and industrial partners.
If your are interested, please submit your application using the online application form
The vacancy is open until June 15. We will however check the applications regularly and when a suitable candidate is selected, he/she is hired and the vacancy will be closed. So do not wait to apply ...
More information on the MECO research team can be found here:
