PhD Student

Job description

Short job description
We are seeking a highly motivated and talented PhD researcher in the field of mechanical and control engineering of robots. You will work on a cutting-edge fundamental research project funded by the Research Foundation Flanders (FWO). In this project we want to design and control a hybrid robot, capable of collaborating with humans at low speed and operating at high speed and precision if the human is not within reach of the robot. To be safe in collaborative mode, the robot must be lightweight to keep its kinetic energy as low as possible. On the contrary, to avoid vibrations that compromise the performance at high speed, we require a stiff and hence heavier robot. To resolve this clear trade-off, we want to start with lightweight hardware and compensate or cancel the vibrations of the robot through model-based control.
This research will be in collaboration with senior researchers within the research group and will be done together with researchers from the VUB R&MM research group.
You have a Master's degree in a relevant field, such as mechanical engineering, control and automation, robotics, electromechanical or mechatronics engineering. Ideally candidates have experience in hardware design and experimental skills as well as notions on robot modeling and control techniques, and will be able to demonstrate a strong understanding of these concepts before starting this position.
If you are passionate about conducting cutting-edge research in the field of robotic mechanical/control design, we encourage you to apply for this exciting opportunity.

Detailed job description
You will work on a fundamental research project funded by the FWO-Flanders. This work is on the design and control of a hybrid robot that takes advantage of the compliance of cobots and the high-speed of traditional industrial robots.
Your task will be to construct a high-fidelity model of a robot, including the actuator drivetrain and the flexibility of the links. You will use this model to calculate the impact forces during a collision between the robot and either a human or its environment. Based on these calculations, you will identify the conditions in which the robot can operate safely, e.g. maximum speed constraints. Secondly, you will investigate what happens if the robot collides with a rigid environment in high-speed mode and at what point the robot hardware gets damaged.
You will use this model to:

• Study the effects of compliance in the drivetrain or flexibility in the links, particularly on the impact force and on the positioning accuracy during high-speed mode.
• Construct a model-based collision detection algorithm that exploits this mechanical compliance.
• Evaluate vibration dampening techniques in collaboration with the researchers from VUB.
• Design a hybrid robot and benchmark the design with respect to existing state-of-the-art robots/cobots in terms of speed, collision tolerance and safety, both numerically and experimentally.

In the past years our research group has accumulated critical expertise and laboratory infrastructure to support this PhD.
You will be responsible for

• conducting research into dynamic modeling of robots during impact
• developing new methods for detecting and mitigating collisions
• presenting your research at conferences and in journals
• cooperating with researchers active within the research group and outside

Job profile

• We look for a highly motivated and talented individual with at least some background in mechanical engineering, having knowledge in robotic applications and has modeling and control experience. You are quick-witted, have an appetite for the theoretical and experimental, and willing to apply and/or improve your programming skills.
• You hold a M.Sc. in mechanical engineering or related engineering fields such as control & automation, robotics.
• You have proven experience with the control, modelling and simulation of mechatronic & robotic systems.
• You have proven experience in Python and/or MATLAB.
• You have experience in or understanding of robot hardware and software.
• You have a team player mindset, a strong personality and work in a result-oriented manner.
• You are creative and willing to work in a multidisciplinary context.
• You are proficient in oral and written English and have strong communication skills.
• You are willing to extend your network and able to talk on technical matters.

WHAT WE CAN OFFER YOU 

• We offer a full-time position as a doctoral fellow, consisting of an initial period of 12 months, which - after a positive evaluation, will be extended to a total maximum of 48 months.
• Your contract will start on September 1, 2025 at the earliest.
• The fellowship amount is 100% of the net salary of an AAP member in equal family circumstances. The individual fellowship amount is determined by Team Personnel Administration based on family status and seniority. A grant that meets the conditions and criteria of the regulations for doctoral fellowships is considered free of personal income tax. Click here for more information about our salary scales
• All Ghent University staff members enjoy a number of benefits, such as a wide range of training and education opportunities, 36 days of holiday leave (on an annual basis for a full-time job) supplemented by annual fixed bridge days, bicycle allowance and eco vouchers. Click here for a complete overview of all the staff benefits..
• Access to state-of-the-art tools and facilities, a network of Flemish companies active in the manufacturing industry, and the possibility to collaborate with other research groups.
• The time to apply and improve your knowledge and skills on state-of-the-art in machine learning, (probabilistic) modelling, system identification and numerical optimization.

How to apply

Send your CV, containing one or more references, a copy of your diploma (if already in your possession) and a motivation letter to Katrien.Verstraete@UGent.be including ‘ROBOTICS PHD’ in the email subject before Monday 19/05/2025. If you pass the pre-selection, you will receive further instructions on the selection process and will be invited for an online job interview.

We do not accept late applications.

For more information about this vacancy, please contact Katrien Verstraete, Katrien.Verstraete@UGent.be ,+32(0)9/264 34 20)