Postgraduate Studentships
Proposed Project Title: Distributed learning for cooperating mobile robots
Principal Supervisor: Prof Seán McLoone

Project Description:

Achieving robust humanoid robot locomotion control, reliable localisation and perception/mapping of the environment, and effective cooperation towards common goals are three key problems in the field of mobile robots. These are especially challenging when working with resource constrained partially observable dynamic environments, a situation which is increasingly the case today as market forces drive developments in robotics toward flexible, low cost humanoid units.

This research project will seek to extend a number of recent developments in evolutionary computation techniques to the multi-agent domain and investigate how best to combine these extensions with efficient reinforcement learning algorithms and heuristics in order to achieve efficient on-line learning, adaptation and cooperation in multiple-robots with limited computational capabilities.

The target application for the research will be Robocup soccer (www.robocup.org). Robocup is a soccer tournament where teams of computer-controlled, or autonomous, robots compete against each other. The tournament, which was established in the late 90’s, is an internationally recognised test bed for robotics research.

Objectives:

(i) Develop distributed extensions of recent developments in evolutionary computation techniques;
(ii) Investigate how best to combine these extensions with efficient learning algorithms and heuristics in order to achieve efficient on-line learning and adaptation in multi-robot environments;
(iii) Demonstrate cooperative learning in a robot soccer environment.

Academic Requirements:

A minimum 2.1 honours degree or equivalent in Computer Science or Electrical and Electronic Engineering 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: Prof. Seán McLoone, Tel: +44 (0)28 9097 4125

QUB Address:
Queens University of Belfast, School of EEECS
Ashby Building, Stranmillis Road,  Belfast  BT9 5AH
Email: s.mcloone<στο>qub.ac.uk;

Deadline for submission of applications is: 27 February, 2015

For further information on Research Area click on link below: http://www.qub.ac.uk/research-centres/EPIC/