Lancaster University

A research position is available to work on an exciting, cross-disciplinary million pound project with a team of industrial partners funded by Innovate UK to investigate and develop next generation autonomous robotic systems that will operate in hazardous underwater environment with little direct human involvement. The research challenges include development of the situation awareness using tactile and passive EO sensors, navigation using sonar SLAM and decision making with elements of autonomy and objects recognition in challenging environments from sonar images using newly developed transparent/interpretable deep learning for advanced computer vision. Simulations will be performed using ROS and programming will be with Python. You will collaborate with an experienced team of industrial experts and will be performing challenging research tasks leading to the implementation of advanced algorithms on software (Python), testing and validating the results in simulation (in ROS) and ultimately on laboratory scale mobile robots. You will be an expert in the area of mobile robotics, autonomous systems, control and navigation with interest to SLAM and decommissioning and keen to learn more about computer vision and transparent deep learning. A PhD degree (or being in a process of submission of a PhD) or equivalent in Computer Science or Engineering or a closely-related field is required to be eligible for this position.