[Jobs] Fully Funded PhD Position in Underwater Robotic Imaging in Sydney, Australia
Donald Dansereau
The Robotic Imaging Lab at the University of Sydney, Australia has a fully funded PhD position open in underwater robotic imaging, in partnership with Hullbot.
Applicants with a strong background in Mechatronic Engineering, Electrical and Computer Engineering, Computer Science, Machine Learning, or similar programs are encouraged to apply.
This project aims to develop new visual sensing approaches to enable next-generation performance in deployed underwater systems. The work will focus on sensing for Hullbot’s cutting-edge nimble underwater drone, improving performance and allowing operation in previously prohibitive conditions.
The challenges:
A fast-moving, tightly integrated 6-DOF underwater robotic platform that inspects, maps, and maintains infrastructure through mid-range and close-up operations
Murky water, bubbles, debris, low light, motion blur, and low-texture surfaces
A unique computing architecture and real-time throughput and latency requirements
Depending on interest and ability, candidates will investigate one or more of:
New ways of designing and evaluating imaging payloads: information-driven, optimisation / learning, and/or simulation-based
Adapting computational imaging techniques to make the most of existing and emerging sensing technologies, including multi-camera and multi-modal sensor payloads
End-to-end approaches to multi-scale and multi-resolution robotic vision, taking imaging physics and adaptive imaging techniques into consideration
Multi-modal and self-supervised machine learning approaches to the above
Research Environment:
Embedded in the Australian Centre for Field Robotics, the Robotic Imaging Lab is focused on endowing robots with new ways of seeing their world. From photons to actions, we employ computational imaging techniques to jointly consider the optics, low-level vision, and high-level semantic understanding that ultimately drive autonomous decision making.
The ACFR offers specialised imaging labs and facilities, robotic platforms, test tanks and robotic field labs across on-campus and nearby off-campus sites. You will have access to mechanical and electronics workshops and a pool of technical staff to help realise your research ambitions. The University of Sydney offers a rich academic setting in a world-class city, and the ACFR has strong ties to a network of nearby and international academic and industrial collaborators.
In collaboration with Hullbot, you will also have access to facilities and an ongoing program of practical cutting-edge robotic deployments. Headquartered at the Sydney Superyacht Marina, Hullbot designs and develops the world's most sophisticated underwater drone. Their platforms inspect, clean and 3D map using an agile, small-form-factor robot. Facilities include a full mechanical and electrical workshop office space located on Sydney Harbour, indoor and outdoor test tank facilities, operational vessel access for field testing, and multiple field-deployed robotic platforms.
Offering:
A fully funded 3.5-year PhD scholarship covering tuition fees and stipend
Successful candidates will have:
A bachelor’s degree in a relevant discipline
Interest in imaging and robotics research with direct impact in an entrepreneurial, dynamic industry
Excellent communication and interpersonal skills
Creativity, curiosity, and passion
Experience with one or more of imaging, image processing and/or computer vision
Hands-on experience with robotic platforms, ROS, Python, C++, and/or deep learning frameworks would also be an asset
How to apply
See application details here: https://RoboticImaging.org/Join/PhD
For all other enquiries, email donald.d...@sydney.edu.au
Application deadline is January 23rd, 2021
More information: