PhD Research Project: Advanced Unmanned Surface Vehicle Autonomy

Although less prominent than their aerial, ground, and underwater counterparts, Unmanned Surface Vehicles (USVs) are starting to become part of global maritime fleets. This uptake is being led by the Defense Sector, where USVs are seen as an attractive alternative to manned vessels for hazardous activities such as minesweeping. In collaboration with industry partners, ACSE have developed state-of the-art USV simulation models that couple the dynamics of a USV to a realistic model of the ocean surface. The aim of this project is to develop the optimal control systems that will enable the simulated USV to transition between waypoints in an efficient fashion, whilst protecting payloads from wave-induced forces.

Funding Notes

Prospective candidates should have a good Masters degree (1st or 2:1) in Applied Mathematics, Physics, Engineering, with background knowledge of control system design and optimisation. Applicants will also require strong programming skills e.g. Matlab or C. Applicants can apply for a Scholarship from the University of Sheffield but should note that competition for these Scholarships is highly competitive.
https://www.sheffield.ac.uk/acse/research-degrees/scholarships