Postdoc in drone safety

At the Faculty of IT and Design, Department of Electronic Systems, a position as postdoc in the research project SafeEYE is open for appointment from October 1st, 2018, or soon hereafter. The position is available for 18 months. The Department of Electronic Systems is one of the largest departments at Aalborg University with a total of more than 300 employees. The department is internationally recognized in particular for its contributions within Information and Communication Technology (ICT). The research and teaching of the Department of Electronic Systems focus on electronic engineering and the activity areas are organized in the sections: Antennas, Propagation and Radio Networking section (APNet), Automation Control section (Control), Signal and Information Processing section (SIP), Wireless Communication Networks section (WCN) and Infrastructure, Services and Entrepreneurship (ISE). The latter covers the two centres Center for Communication, Media and Information technologies (CMI) in Copenhagen and Center for TeleInfrastructure (CTIF) in Aalborg. The department focuses on maintaining a close interplay with the university's surroundings - locally, nationally and internationally – as well as producing unique basic research and educating talented and creative engineers. The department collaborates with leading ICT researchers all over the world.

Job description
The Drone Research Lab under Department of Electronic Systems seeks to appoint a postdocs to work jointly on the SafeEYE project along with faculty staff, technicians, another post doc, and four companies involved in the project (EasyInspect, Senseable, G4S, and Rambøll). 

The project aims to develop a small device that can be mounted on a drone (typically in the range 7-25 kg) and which can 1) via a very small camera and video processing determine where there is safe landing/crash zones below the aircraft, 2) detect faults and guide the aircraft to a safety landing, 3) or, for major faults, terminate the flight by shutting down the engine(s) to conduct a controlled crash, and 4) provide online geofencing based on detection of people on the ground below the intended flight path. In the project the SafeyEYE device will be test-flown on DJI Matrice 600 and Higheye HEF32 aircraft.

The postdoc includes the following fields. In your application, please describe which of the below competencies you can cover, and to what extend.

• Fault detection based on aircraft state from SafeEye and from drone telemetry
  • Modelling fault on generic unmanned aircraft
  • Fault detection through both passive and active methods
• Onboard inertial navigation functionality for estimating aircraft state
  • Modelling of generic aircraft
  • State estimation parallel to onboard state estimation to aid in fault detection
• Path planning and guidance commands for descending aircraft
• Programming
  • Implement developed methods in C++ and/or Python
  • Work with real time systems and embedded computers
  • Document programs and developed algorithms
• Test flights
  • Plan and conduct test flights with SafeEYE prototypes in various environments
  • Operate HEF32 and M600 drones for flight operations (with appropriate training provided by the university)
• It is a plus for applicants to have prior experience with drones flight operations and/or aviation engineering, both hobby and professional. 

It is presupposed that applicants for the position as postdoc have research qualifications from a successful PhD study in a relevant area, such as control, estimation, robotics, computer vision, guidance & navigation, etc. The applicants must document a record of scientific production at an international level within such area.

As a postdoc at AAU Drone Research Lab you will be part of a drone environment for both students and researchers. DRL conducts indoor flying in a motion tracking lab with smaller drones, as well as a range of shorter and longer outdoor missions in a variety of projects with drones from 10 to 90 kg. The main focus for DRL is rotorcraft drones.

You may obtain further professional information from Associate Professor Anders la Cour-Harbo, Phone +45 9940 8737, email: alc@es.aau.dk. Email is preferred.

Qualification requirements: 
Appointment as Postdoc presupposes scientific qualifications at PhD–level or similar scientific qualifications. The research potential of each applicant will be emphasized in the overall assessment. Appointment as a Postdoc cannot exceed a period of four years in total at Aalborg University.

The application must contain the following:

• A motivated text wherein the reasons for applying, qualifications in relation to the position, and intentions and visions for the position are stated.
• A current curriculum vitae.
• Copies of relevant diplomas (Master of Science and PhD). On request you could be asked for an official English translation.
• Scientific qualifications. A complete list of publications must be attached with an indication of the works the applicant wishes to be considered. You may attach up to 5 publications.
• Dissemination qualifications, including participation on committees or boards, participation in organisations and the like.
• Additional qualifications in relation to the position. References/recommendations.
• Personal data.

The applications are only to be submitted online by using the "Apply online" button below. An assessment committee will assess all candidates.

We wish to reflect the diversity of society and welcome applications from all qualified candidates regardless of personal background.

For further information concerning the application procedure please contact Anne Christoffersen by mail EST-ST-HR@adm.aau.dk or phone (+45) 9940 9680. Information regarding guidelines, ministerial circular in force and procedures can be seen here.

Agreement
Employment is in accordance with the Ministerial Order on the Appointment of Academic Staff at Universities (the Appointment Order) and the Ministry of Finance's current Job Structure for Academic Staff at Universities. Employment and salary are in accordance with the collective agreement for state-employed academics.   

Vacancy number
2018-224-01875

Deadline
Wed Aug 15 00:00:00 CEST 2018

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