Postgraduate Studentships
Proposed Project Title: Emergent Sync for Swarming Cyber-Physical Systems
Principal Supervisor: Dr. John McAllister

Project Description:

Swarming cyber-physical systems, such as miniature aerial or land-based robots, are autonomous cooperative systems which potentially communicate and synchronize with one another and navigate within ad-hoc environments. However, as a direct consequence of their small size and very limited power budgets, on-board processing power for these units is highly limited. This situation is compounded by limits on payload, which preclude the substantial resolution of these issues by increasing battery size. As a result, path planning and formation control in most state-of-the-art systems are via a centralized terminal.

This project will develop techniques for decentralized formation control for these swarms, removing the need for a central controller. It will exploit state-of-the-art techniques for remote synchronization and low-cost communications to allow coordinated movement on highly resource-constrained platforms. The primary application area will be miniature quadrotor or land-based robot platforms.

Objectives:

1. To characterise the performance of centralized control approaches for mobile swarming systems
2. To develop swarming synchronization and communications approaches for distributed platforms.
3. Deploy and demonstrates the approaches from 2 on model and prototype platforms
4. Present initial results in international data processing forums.
5. Publish findings in IEEE journals.

Academic Requirements:

A minimum 2.1 honours degree or equivalent in Electronic Engineering, Mathematics, Physics, Computer Science or relevant degree is required.

GENERAL INFORMATION

This 3 year PhD studentship, potentially funded by the Department for Employment and Learning (DEL), commences on 1 October 2015.

Eligibility for both fees and maintenance (£13,863 in 2014/15, 2015/16 TBC) depends on the applicants being either an ordinary UK resident or those EU residents who have lived permanently in the UK for the 3 years immediately preceding the start of the studentship. Non UK residents who hold EU residency may also apply but if successful may receive fees only.

Please note: DEL awards are available for Home and EU candidates only.

Applicants should apply electronically through the Queen’s online application portal at:
https://dap.qub.ac.uk/portal/

Further information available at:
http://www.qub.ac.uk/schools/eeecs/StudyattheSchool/PhDProgrammes

Contact detail

Supervisor Name: Dr. John McAllister
QUB Address: ECIT, Northern Ireland Science Park,
Queen’s Road, Belfast BT3 9DT
Tel: +44 (0)28 9097 1743

Email: jp.mcallister<στο>ieee.org

Deadline for submission of applications is 27^th February 2015.

For further information on Research Area click on link below:
http://www.ecit.qub.ac.uk/Research/SecureDigitalSystems/