SMART-E is a Doctoral Training Network, funded by the EU Commission’s FP7 Marie Curie Programme, with the aim to prepare the next generation of leading experts in advanced robotics to secure a sustainable manufacturing sector in Europe.
The network involves the collaboration of eight European institutions – the University of Salford, University of Zurich, Scuola Superiore Sant’Anna, Istituto Italiano di Tecnologia, Technical University of Munich, FESTO, Airbus and Advanced Manufacturing Research Centre at the University of Sheffield.
The network is bringing together leading experts in the field of embodied intelligence, compliant, soft robotics, advanced manufacturing, industrial robotics and automation, smart materials and machine learning in Europe. You will utilise new technologies (mostly pioneered by SMART-E) in state-of-the- art training environments.
The successful candidate will benefit from high quality industrial experience and interdisciplinary projects that are individually tailored. The research training programme will combine technical expertise acquisition with business & leadership, communication and entrepreneurial skills in order to provide you with the skills, knowledge and confidence to tackle not only the technical challenges, but also to play a key role in embedding/deploying these solutions into practical applications.
The researchers will have at least 2 placements outside of their host organisation; this may entail a short stay outside their host country.
Theme: Control framework for compliant agents/ robotic systems
The focus of this research is the development of a framework and techniques for control of a novel compliant manipulator and related variably compliant actuation systems (http://www.iit.it/en/advr-labs/humanoids-a-human-centred-mechatronics.html) for robust, fast, adaptable and damage-safe motions and interactions with co-workers in manufacturing. Hence, capabilities of the arms of the existing COMAN and WalkMan compliant humanoids (http://www.iit.it/en/advr-labs/humanoids-a-human-centred-mechatronics/advr-humanoids-projects/compliant-humanoid-platform-coman.html) will be used as test bed to explore both the mechatronic technological limits (structural materials, actuation and sensing) and new design and control philosophies with the aim of advancing towards the development of high performance manipulation systems. The Department of Advanced Robotics at IIT possesses a strong expertise in control an robotics complaint systems and industrial know how in this field with 5+ patents.
In detail, the main goals of the project are:
- Development and investigation of advanced techniques for control of compliant and VIA technology and actuator/arm assemblies that are more robust, more stable, have reduced oscillatory behaviour, lower cost, have less friction and wear, etc.
- Development of algorithms for path planning, and task allocation for physically interactive manipulation testing of the upper body of a robot (COMAN and/or WalkMan) and compares this with mature technologies for lightweight robots (KUKA LWR).
- focus on the introduction of, and improvements in physical impedance parameters, e.g. damping or effective inertia,
The resulting developed systems will be capable of:
- more safely co‐existing and co‐operating with people (co-workers) and other robots;
- attaining performance levels more commonly associated with humans.
For further information on this topic contact Jorn.Malzahn@iit.it
Key eligibility criteria for the post: eligibility and mobility
To be eligible, the candidate must simultaneously fulfill the following criteria at the time of recruitment:
- Nationality: The candidate may be of any nationality.
- Mobility: At the time of recruitment, the candidate must not have resided or carried out his/her main activity (work, studies, etc.) in Italy for more than 12 months in the 3 years immediately prior to his/her recruitment under the project. Compulsory national service and/or short stays such as holidays are not taken into account.
- Qualifications and research experience: At the time of recruitment, the candidate must not have yet been awarded a doctorate degree; and they must not have had more than 4 year of full-time professional research experience. The candidate must have as a minimum an excellent Master’s degree in Mechatronics / Mechanical / Electrical engineering, or other related fields.
Employment conditions
Salary will be according to the rules for Early Stage Researchers set out in the FP7 People Work programme 2008, including living and mobility allowance (this may vary according to the family situation of the researcher).
Further information about Marie Curie projects can be found at the following link:http://cordis.europa.eu/fp7/mariecurieactions/home_en.html
How to Apply: Interested applicants should submit a cover letter and detailed Curriculum Vitae to Darwin Caldwell (Darwin.Caldwell@iit.it ) (Ref: ESR Marie Curie).
Deadline: Thursday 7th January 2016