PhD position in learning and control of multi-robot systems

Electrification and digitalisation are among the largest areas for the future in the conversion to sustainable societies. The Department of Electrical Engineering conducts successful research and education in the areas - renewable energy sources, electric vehicles, industrial IoT, 6G communication and wireless sensor networks as well as research and education within Life Science, smart electronic sensors and medical systems. The Department of Electrical Engineering is an international workplace with around 160 employees that all contribute to important technical energy and health solutions at the Ångström laboratory.

Come and work with us!
The position will be at the division of Signals and Systems, at the Department of Electrical Engineering. Here you will find a friendly work enviroment with a doctoral network and a variety experimental projects. The division collaboration with Swedish companies - Public and private - and stakeholders in the different fields of research. We lookning forward to receiving your application. Join and build the future with us!

Project description
Multi-robot systems offer exciting opportunities for advancing the future of automation and technology. As opposed to single-robot setups, collaboration of multiple robots increases efficiency, enhances flexibility, and provides greater robustness in complex, dynamic environments. Whether it's for industrial automation, search and rescue missions, environmental monitoring, or space exploration, the ability of multi-robot teams to communicate and adapt on the fly to new challenges creates a resilient and scalable solution to tasks that are too difficult or dangerous for humans. Nevertheless, the efficient deployment of multi-robot systems entails significant challenges since robots are often required to deliver complex, time-constrained tasks in obstacle-cluttered and dynamically-changing environments that induce unknown disturbances and unforeseen events.

The purpose of this project is to develop a theoretical and algorithmic foundation for the efficient coordination of autonomous robotic systems for delivery of complex tasks with deadlines. Special focus will be given to teams of ground robots and robotic manipulators. The algorithms must be able to adapt to environmental and system uncertainties and guarantee safety of the robots and the surrounding environment.  A variety of inter-discplinary methods combining control-theory, motion planning, and learning are expected to be used for the project. The developed algorithms will be validated on robotic platforms.

Duties
The PhD student is expected to

• Develop algorithms combining planning, control, and learning for safety and performance of multi-robot systems in uncertain environments.
• Test the developed algorithms on robotic platforms.
• Write research papers and orally present the research results in different forums such as project group meetings as well as international research conferences.
• Participate in research projects and third-cycle courses comprising 80 credits.
• Participate in teaching activities and other departmental duties, that will not take more than 20% of their time.

Requirements 

• Hold a master degree in engineering or computer science, with focus on control theory, robotics, or similar.
• Very good oral and written proficiency in English.
• We value personal qualities and motivation. The successful candidate should be purposeful, structured and be able to work effectively both individually and in groups. Good collaborations and communication skills with other researchers is required. 

Additional qualifications
Previous experience with research projects is a desirable merit.  

Rules governing PhD students are set out in the Higher Education Ordinance chapter 5, §§ 1-7 and in Uppsala University's rules and guidelines.

About the employment
The employment is a temporary position according to the Higher Education Ordinance chapter 5 § 7. Scope of employment 100 %. Starting date 2025-03-01 or as agreed. Placement: Uppsala 

For further information about the position, please contact: Christos Verginis, christos.verginis@angstrom.uu.se

Please submit your application by 16th of December, 2024. UFV-PA 2024/3737.

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