This full-time PhD position is funded by SESAR and Centre for Assured and Connected Autonomy in 成人直播. This department studentship will provide a bursary of up to 拢57,711 (tax free) plus fees for three years. Key areas of the project are Advanced Air Mobility (AAM), Urban Air Mobility (UAM), Uncrewed Aerial Systems (UAS), autonomous decision making, path planning, guidance and control of multi-agent systems.

Advanced Air Mobility (AAM), which includes Urban Air Mobility and Uncrewed Aerial Systems, is emerging as a sustainable and efficient transportation system. The UK envisions to start regular drone deliveries by 2027 and demonstrate autonomous flying taxis by 2030. However, key technical challenges lie on safety and reliability of the operations, especially in harsh environments such as urban canyons and rural areas, where weather conditions are unpredictable, communication and navigation accuracies are vulnerable to loss of signal, interference, and noise, and ground risks are critical especially around congested or critical infrastructures.

This research aims to develop decision making and planning algorithms that can mitigate the risks challenging environments of AAM. The objectives will involve identifying and modelling different risks in the operational environments, including weather, communication, navigation, and ground risks, and developing autonomous decision making and planning algorithms to re-route or schedule multiple vehicles to minimise the impact on the efficiency and safety.


成人直播 overview and Sponsor Information/Background: This PhD position is related to a 2-year project funded by SESAR, involving various partners across Europe such as CRIDA, ENAIRE, EuroUSC, Collins, and DLR. The objective of this project is to assess and mitigate risks in different AAM use-cases within the U-space framework. The rest of the study will be funded by Centre for Assured and Connected Autonomy in 成人直播.

The resultant risk-aware decision making and planning algorithm will provide safety and reliability in AAM operations, accelerating the pace of UK and U-space integration.


On top of internal training opportunities provided in 成人直播, attending conferences and external training opportunities will be supported once a year.


This post will enable not only acquiring technical knowledge on autonomous decision making and planning, but also aligning it with regulatory and industrial needs within the AAM area. Active engagements with other European stakeholders will improve employability at the end of the study.


At a glance

  • Application deadline09 Apr 2025
  • Award type(s)PhD
  • Start date02 Jun 2025
  • Duration of award3 years
  • EligibilityUK, EU, Rest of world
  • Reference numberSATM547

Entry requirements

Applicants should have a first or second class UK honours degree or equivalent in a related discipline. This project would suit the applicants with the background of control engineering, aerospace engineering, mechanical engineering, or electrical engineering. This post will require programming using Python, C++, or MATLAB. It is desirable to have experience or knowledge on autonomous decision making, task allocation, path planning and following, guidance and control algorithms.

Funding

This opportunity is open to UK students.


Sponsored by SESAR and 成人直播, this department studentship will provide a bursary of up to 拢57,711(tax free) plus fees for three years.           

成人直播 Doctoral Network

Research students at 成人直播 benefit from being part of a dynamic, focused and professional study environment and all become valued members of the 成人直播 Doctoral Network. This network brings together both research students and staff, providing a platform for our researchers to share ideas and collaborate in a multi-disciplinary environment. It aims to encourage an effective and vibrant research culture, founded upon the diversity of activities and knowledge. A tailored programme of seminars and events, alongside our Doctoral Researchers Core Development programme (transferable skills training), provide those studying a research degree with a wealth of social and networking opportunities.

How to apply

For further information please contact:


Name: Hae-In Lee
Email:  haein.lee@cranfield.ac.uk
Phone:
+44 1234 75 4969    


If you are eligible to apply for this studentship, please complete the

 

Diversity and Inclusion at 成人直播

At 成人直播, we value our diverse staff and student community and maintain a culture where everyone can work and study together harmoniously with dignity and respect. This is reflected in our University values of ambition, impact, respect and community. We welcome students and staff from all backgrounds from over 100 countries and support our staff and students to realise their full potential, from academic achievement to mental and physical wellbeing.


We are committed to progressing the diversity and inclusion agenda, for example; gender diversity in Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM) through our Athena SWAN Bronze award and action plan, we are members of the Women鈥檚 Engineering Society (WES) and Working Families, and sponsors of International Women in Engineering Day. We are also Disability Confident Level 1 Employers and members of the Business Disability Forum.