Background

The research programme in the field of lift and vertical transportation systems at The University has achieved international recognition and excellence. The Department of Engineering and Technology at the University invites applications for a 3-year fully-funded PhD studentship in the area of technologies for safeguarding lift entrances. This PhD project will be sponsored by a market-leading international company.

Research Project

In the modern lift environment installations intended for passenger transportation have fully automatic power-operated doors. Automatic power operation offers significant advantages but there is the risk of injury to a passenger crossing the entrance. Thus, the national and international lift safety rules for the construction and installation of lifts, such as EN 81-1/2: 1998 and, more recently, EN 81-20:2014, require the application of safety devices that automatically initiate re-opening of the doors after the detection of any object greater than 49 mm diameter.

The existing technical solutions and product range include light curtains for safeguarding lift doors. The current protection technology is based on an array of infra-red LEDs and receiver diodes which is a cost effective technology but the detectors are physically large and take long time to install. A PhD – level research is needed to develop an alternative technology that would meet the same fundamental requirements but offering improved performance, significant advantages and additional features, such as the passenger counting capability.

The project presents an opportunity of conducting cutting-edge research in the area of (optical) detecting technologies that will have a real impact on the lift industry professional practice and safety records. The aim is to develop a novel lift door protective device using high-performance optical detecting technologies. The device should be cost effective and satisfy the current safety code requirements as well as the key technical requirements.

Candidate Eligibility

• Applications are welcomed from national/ EU and international candidates.
• Candidates should have at least an upper second class honours degree (or equivalent, or a Masters degree) in the relevant subject areas in Electronics and/ or Applied Physics.

Start date: May 2015 or as soon as possible thereafter

Informal enquiries can be made to Professor Stefan Kaczmarczyk

(E-mail: stefan.kaczmarczyk<στο>northampton.ac.uk)

For an application form, please go to www.northampton.ac.uk/study/courses/research