High-speed micro 3-D metrology 

The EPSRC Centre for Doctoral Training in Embedded Intelligence in partnership with Renishaw Plc. offers excellent conditions for PhD training. A formal partnership between Loughborough University, Herriot Watt University and Renishaw allows ambitious and capable individuals to be selected for PhD studentships on advanced topics at the cutting edge of science and engineering.

Embedded Intelligence is characterised as the ability of a product, process or service to reflect on its own operational performance, usage load, or in relation to the end-user or environment in terms of satisfactory experience. This self-reflection is facilitated by information collected by sensors and processed locally or remotely to derive insight. These aspects must be considered from the design stage such as to enhance product lifetime and performance, increase quality of process or service delivery, or ensure customer satisfaction and market acceptance.

Project description

The overall objective of this project is to design and build a novel optical metrology instrument able to measure 3-D coordinates of surfaces and internal 3-D structure in transparent media without requiring mechanical scanning. All the 3-D spatial information is encoded simultaneously in a single exposure of a photodetector array, which makes the system robust against vibrations and therefore appropriate for in-line inspection or microscope accessories for benchtop systems. Two application areas will be studied: 1) Non-contact coordinate measurements: Integration of an optical head into CMMs for high density areal profilometry (~100x100 sample points measured simultaneously) and 2) Full-field thickness measurements of thin films (engineering materials and biological samples). Proof of principle systems and demonstrator prototypes will be built towards commercialization by the industrial sponsor Renishaw.

EPSRC Centre for Doctoral Training in Embedded Intelligence

This Centre, in collaboration with Renishaw Plc, offers an attractive package, including a tax free stipend of up to £17k pa (equivalent £24k tax free), in addition to full University PhD registration fees for British and EU candidates. Overseas applicants are expected to finance the residual annual PhD fees which are in excess of the home student fees. Additionally, there is a generous personal development budget of £10,000 for the specific training needs of the successful candidate. The Centre offers a unique 4-year Ph.D. programme, drawing on expertise in postgraduate teaching and research supervision in the fields of sensors, system design, embedded software and systems, manufacturing systems, novel manufacturing processing, applications engineering and systems services. The PhD candidate will be supported by the state-of-the-art facilitiesat Renishaw Plc and Loughborough University.

Applications: To submit your application for this position, please click on the"Apply through website" button. Please complete the short online registration. 

Please quote the reference number 2015CDTEIMM2 and include a well-formatted cover letter along with your professional CV. Incomplete applications will not be considered.

Deadline for applications: 4th May 2015

Starting date: 1st September 2015

Essential

A high calibre candidate with first or upper second class (2:1) degree in Electronic / Systems / Mechanical / Optical engineering or Physics is sought.

- Good analytical, numerical and experimental skills

- Software programming skills in Matlab

- Knowledge of imaging systems and image processing

- Excellent communication skills and ability to work both independently and as part of a team

Desirable

- CAD and FEA

- Interest in instrument development with a view towards commercialization

Loughborough University is one of the UK’s leading universities – consistently placed within the Top 20. Located on a 438 acre single-site campus, Loughborough has a world-wide reputation for excellence in teaching and research, strong links with industry, and unrivalled sporting achievement. A research-intensive university, Loughborough is world-renowned for the high calibre of research produced - three departments were rated number one in the country. Loughborough has also been awarded six Queen's Anniversary Prizes.

The Wolfson School of Mechanical and Manufacturing Engineering, was ranked among the UK top ten in this subject area in the REF 2014. Within the School, the Optical Engineering group has been awarded the 2000 Queen’s Anniversary prize for Further and Higher Education for its excellence. 

Voted England’s Best Student Experience for six consecutive years, Loughborough is also recognised for supporting international students. Loughborough also won the Sunday Times University of the Year title (2008-09) and students rank us among the UK’s top institutions for student satisfaction.

About the Sponsor

Renishaw is a global company with core skills in measurement, motion control, spectroscopy and precision machining. It develops innovative products that significantly advance their customers' operational performance - from improving manufacturing efficiencies and raising product quality, to maximising research capabilities and improving the efficacy of medical procedures. Their products are used for applications as diverse as machine tool automation, co-ordinate measurement, additive manufacturing, gauging, Raman spectroscopy, machine calibration, position feedback, CAD/CAM dentistry, shape memory alloys, large scale surveying, stereotactic neurosurgery, and medical diagnostics.