The factories of the future will rely heavily on robotics, while robots execute multiple complex tasks. The graspers in pick&place robots typically have the responsibility of grabbing the object of interest and safely transporting it to the next location. In this operation the object is typically passively transported waiting for the next task to be executed once it is placed in the next position. What if we can execute functionality during the pick & place operation?

In this project we will design grasper with embodied intelligence that can execute functional tasks while the object is in the pick & place operation. Examples include grasper with embodied multi-sensing capabilities for characterization and grasper with embodied actuation for positioning or ultrasonic welding.

This project consists of design of grasping functionality, smart structure modeling and additive manufacturing for prototyping. Design, analysis and experimental work for demonstration of the working principle are core aspects of the project.

We are looking for an enthusiastic PhD candidate to develop design methodology and demonstrate the working principle of grasper with embodied intelligence for future factories. The outcomes of this project will be disseminated to the scientific community and to a general audience through presentations at (inter-)national conferences and through publications in peer-reviewed journals. Additionally, the candidate is expected to take part in educational activities within the department (for example supervise master thesis work).

This project is part of a bigger project called "Aviation in Transition". The aviation sector faces an enormous challenge to become climate neutral by 2050. To this end, Aviation in Transition develops technology, products and knowledge for which there is an upsurge in demand from the global market. Aviation in Transition thus increases the structural earning capacity of the Dutch economy and tackles the negative effects of aviation at an accelerated pace, in line with the recommendations of the United Nations Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC). The Dutch aviation sector has the opportunity to be a pioneer in Europe in the transition to sustainable aviation. You will join a cohort of PhD and postdoctoral researchers who are together, tackling this grand challenge.

The PhD candidate will be supervised jointly by Dr. Jovana Jovanova from the Faculty of Mechanical Engineering and Dr. Kunal Masania from the Shaping Matter Lab, in Faculty of Aerospace Engineering at Delft University of Technology.

We are looking for a highly motivated and creative candidate:

• You hold or are about to obtain a MSc degree in mechanical engineering, aerospace engineering, or similar.
• You have a strong interest in smart structures and additive manufacturing.
• You are familiar with and interested in the use of smart materials to achieve embodied intelligence.
• You have a background in design, modeling and prototyping.
• You are creative, take initiative, and enjoy working independently.
• You are research-oriented, inherently curious, versatile, and a fast learner.
• You enjoy scientific writng presenting your work to others and having constructive discussions about scientific topics.

Any of the below is considered an advantage:

• Experience with adaptive structures modeling
• Experience with additive manufacturing
• Experience smart structure integration

Please highlight your specific skills for this position explicitly in your motivation letter. Motivation letters that do not address any of these requirements will not be considered.

Doing a PhD at TU Delft requires English proficiency at a certain level to ensure that the candidate is able to communicate and interact well, participate in English-taught Doctoral Education courses, and write scientific articles and a final thesis. For more details please check the Graduate Schools Admission Requirements.

Fixed-term contract: 4 years.

Doctoral candidates will be offered a 4-year period of employment in principle, but in the form of 2 employment contracts. An initial 1,5 year contract with an official go/no go progress assessment within 15 months. Followed by an additional contract for the remaining 2,5 years assuming everything goes well and performance requirements are met.

Salary and benefits are in accordance with the Collective Labour Agreement for Dutch Universities, increasing from € 2872 per month in the first year to € 3670 in the fourth year. As a PhD candidate you will be enrolled in the TU Delft Graduate School. The TU Delft Graduate School provides an inspiring research environment with an excellent team of supervisors, academic staff and a mentor. The Doctoral Education Programme is aimed at developing your transferable, discipline-related and research skills.

The TU Delft offers a customisable compensation package, discounts on health insurance, and a monthly work costs contribution. Flexible work schedules can be arranged.

For international applicants, TU Delft has the Coming to Delft Service. This service provides information for new international employees to help you prepare the relocation and to settle in the Netherlands. The Coming to Delft Service offers a Dual Career Programme for partners and they organise events to expand your (social) network.

Delft University of Technology

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!

Faculty Mechanical Engineering

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.

Click here to go to the website of the Faculty of Mechanical Engineering. Do you want to experience working at our faculty? These videos will introduce you to some of our researchers and their work.

For more information about this vacancy, please contact Dr. Jovana Jovanova j.jovanova@tudelft.nl