Postdoc Researcher of Teleoperated Shared Control Robot Learning Delft • TU Delft

We are seeking a postdoctoral researcher for a 2-year contract to advance robot learning in shared control with a human operator. The key aim is to create and evaluate a method for teleoperation of a single robot and a swarm of robots through human-machine interfaces where a shared control system arbitrates the authority over the robot/swarm functions between the human operator and a continuously learning robot intelligence. Two key applications will be examined: 1) a swarm of drones performing complex manoeuvres, and 2) robotic arms performing delicate physical interaction tasks.

Your project is partially funded by a Knowledge and Innovation Covenant (KIC) grant from the Dutch Research Council (NWO) entitled “STEADFAST – Swarm Technology Enabling Advanced Drone- Facilitated Active Support Tactics for Military and First Responder Operations.”

You will be a member of the Human-Robot Collaboration Lab and Learning & Autonomous Control group in the Department of Cognitive Robotics. You will be supervised by associate professor Luka Peternel and associate professor Jens Kober, and work with MSc students and PhD candidates in their research groups.

Opportunities for growing your academic career will be available, such as mentoring MSc Students, conference presentations, networking, and teaching.

You should have:

• A PhD in Robotics or a similar discipline by the start date of the position.
• A strong experience with robot learning and control.
• A strong interest in the teleoperation of various types of robots.
• Proficiency with at least one programming language (e.g., C++, Python, Matlab, etc.).
• Good written and oral communication skills in English.

The following aspects will help you stand out:

• Thriving in multidisciplinary environments.
• Creativity and ambition to conduct cutting-edge research.
• Self-motivation.
• Curiosity-driven working attitude.
• Experience with drones and/or robotic manipulators.
• Knowledge of human-robot interfaces, optimal control, and Robot Operating System (ROS).

Delft University of Technology is built on strong foundations. As creators of the world-famous Dutch waterworks and pioneers in biotech, TU Delft is a top international university combining science, engineering and design. It delivers world class results in education, research and innovation to address challenges in the areas of energy, climate, mobility, health and digital society. For generations, our engineers have proven to be entrepreneurial problem-solvers, both in business and in a social context. 

At TU Delft we embrace diversity as one of our core values and we actively engage to be a university where you feel at home and can flourish. We value different perspectives and qualities. We believe this makes our work more innovative, the TU Delft community more vibrant and the world more just. Together, we imagine, invent and create solutions using technology to have a positive impact on a global scale. That is why we invite you to apply. Your application will receive fair consideration. 

Challenge. Change. Impact! 

From chip to ship. From machine to human being. From idea to solution. Driven by a deep-rooted desire to understand our environment and discover its underlying mechanisms, research and education at the ME faculty focusses on fundamental understanding, design, production including application and product improvement, materials, processes and (mechanical) systems. 

ME is a dynamic and innovative faculty with high-tech lab facilities and international reach. It’s a large faculty but also versatile, so we can often make unique connections by combining different disciplines. This is reflected in ME’s outstanding, state-of-the-art education, which trains students to become responsible and socially engaged engineers and scientists. We translate our knowledge and insights into solutions to societal issues, contributing to a sustainable society and to the development of prosperity and well-being. That is what unites us in pioneering research, inspiring education and (inter)national cooperation. 

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