Research Assistant Mechatronics and Control (Part Time) - INTERNAL ONLY (COS626)

The National Centre for Nuclear Robotics (NCNR) is a multi-disciplinary EPSRC RAI (Robotics and Artificial Intelligence) Hub consisting of most leading nuclear robotics experts in the UK including Universities of Birmingham, Queen Mary, Essex, Bristol, Edinburgh, Lancaster and Lincoln. Under this project, more than 40 postdoctoral researchers and PhD researchers form a team to develop cutting-edge scientific solutions to all aspects of nuclear robotics such as sensor and manipulator design, computer vision, robotic grasping and manipulation, mobile robotics, intuitive user interfaces and shared autonomy.

At the Lincoln Centre for Autonomous Systems at the University of Lincoln, we are developing new machine learning algorithms for several crucial applications in nuclear robotics such as waste handling, cell decommissioning and site monitoring with mobile robots. Clean-up and decommissioning of nuclear waste is one of the biggest challenges for our and the next generations with enormous predicted costs (up to £200Bn over the next hundred years). Moreover, recent disaster situations such as Fukushima have shown the crucial importance of robotics technology for monitoring and intervention, which is still missing today. Our team focuses on algorithms for vision-guided robot grasping and manipulation, cutting, shared control and semi-autonomy, mobile robot navigation and outdoor mapping and navigation with a strong focus on machine learning and adaptation techniques. A dedicated bimanual robot arm platform is being developed, mounted on a mobile platform, and to be operated using shared autonomy, teleoperation and augmented reality concepts to be developed.

In this context, a short-term vacancy is available to internal candidates only. This vacancy is to focus on the development of the mechatronics and control aspects for a mobile manipulation platform, composed of a "Thorvald" mobile base and two "Franka Emika Panda" arms. We are looking for a versatile candidate from mechatronics, engineering or computer science backgrounds, capable of delivery of an effective working solution to the problems of mounting the two arms on the mobile platform, the electronics, and the control of the integrated platform. Successful candidates will have expertise in electrical and mechanical engineering and software development, to deliver an integrated solution, comprising mechanical and electrical setup of the arms and a software packages (based on the Robot Operation System, ROS), allowing control of the arms on the mobile base. There is a strong and established foundation for this work in terms of existing software packages and infrastructure that this work shall be embedded in. 

Applicants will possess excellent engineering and programming skills as well as a solid mathematical understanding. Successful applicants will usually have graduated with an MSc degree in a relevant area (e.g. maths, computer science, engineering). They will be embedded in the NCNR team and work alongside other researchers in the field, both locally in Lincoln, and across the UK.

This post is a part-time 50%FTE position, initially funded for 4 months, with the possibility to be extended.

This position does not fulfil the UK Visas & Immigration sponsorship criteria for Tier 2.

Closing Date: 12 Mar 2019
Category: Internal Only Vacancies