Perform research on swarms of autonomous flapping wing drones in greenhouses

Job description
Autonomous flight of flapping wing drones in greenhouses

Expanding food production to feed the ever increasing world population raises labour and plant health concerns. Pests and diseases can cause significant harvest losses of up to 10%. Automated crop monitoring could reduce these losses and diminish chemicals use which are also being restricted.

The “Flappy” project aims to develop autonomous flapping wing drones for indoor use to support greenhouse growers in monitoring pests and diseases. Flapping wing drones have the advantages of safety, small size, and relatively long flight endurance, making them suitable for operation around human workers in greenhouses.

However, it is also a highly challenging task to make flapping wing drones fly by themselves: They are extremely restricted in terms of size, weight, and power, limiting the sensors and computing power that can be carried onboard.

In this project, you will work on autonomous flight capabilities. Basic flight control of a drone attitude angle is relatively mature. However, velocity and height control on FW-MAVs is still a substantial challenge, and will have to be tackled first in the project. Subsequently, you will focus on obstacle avoidance and eventually on collaboration in a swarm for quicker coverage and continuous operation in a greenhouse.

During the project you will interact and collaborate with other project partners, researchers and local businesses in the horticultural industry. The role also includes coaching and supervising aeronautical/mechanical engineering students (BSc, MSc) who will be involved in the Flappy project research activities. In addition you will be involved in the project dissemination activities encompassing publications on peer reviews journals, conferences participation, guest lectures, masterclasses or other input for government, industry of civil society stakeholders. In this position you will be representing the research group both internally and externally.

Embedding

The development of autonomous flapping wing drones within the Flappy project is a collaboration of the Biomimicry research team at Hogeschool Inholland and the Micro Aerial Vehicle Lab (MAVLab) at TU Delft. The employment contract will be based at TU Delft. The post doc will be mentored by Mauro Gallo (HI), Guido de Croon (TUD) and Christophe De Wagter (TUD). In addition to the research, the postdoc will receive support in developing their professional skills and preparing for either an academic or non-academic career.

Requirements

• PhD in Robotics, Systems and Control, Computer Science, Aerospace/aeronautic engineering, Applied Mathematics, or a related field
• Excellent command of Python / Matlab and/or C++ / C
• Genuine interest for coaching and education
• Independent, self-motivated, reliable, and eager to learn.
• Well organized and excellent time management skills
• Ability to work in a project team and take leadership and responsibility for different research tasks.
• Ability to work at the intersection of several research domains
• A curiosity-driven mindset and a passion for (doing) research and education
• Excellent command of English and communication skills.

TU Delft
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 Aerospace Engineering
The Faculty of Aerospace Engineering at Delft University of Technology is one of the world’s most highly ranked (and most comprehensive) research, education and innovation communities devoted entirely to aerospace engineering. More than 200 science staff, around 270 PhD candidates and close to 3000 BSc and MSc students apply aerospace engineering disciplines to address the global societal challenges that threaten us today, climate change without doubt being the most important. Our focal subjects: sustainable aerospace, big data and artificial intelligence, bio-inspired engineering and smart instruments and systems. Working at the faculty means working together. With partners in other faculties, knowledge institutes, governments and industry, both aerospace and non-aerospace. Working in field labs and innovation hubs on our university campus and beyond.

Click here to go to the website of the Faculty of Aerospace Engineering.

Conditions of employment
Salary and benefits are in accordance with the Collective Labour Agreement for Dutch Universities. 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.

Additional information
For more information about this vacancy, please contact Guido de Croon, g.c.h.e.decroon@tudelft.nl. Mention the title of the position, "Autonomous flight of flapping wing drones in greenhouses" in the subject.     

Application procedure
Are you interested in this vacancy? Please apply no later than 4 December 2024 via the application button and upload:

• letter of motivation explaining why you are the right candidate for this project;
• updated cv (including a list of publications);
• list of courses and grades at Master and Bachelor level (in English);
• summary of your doctoral thesis;
• email addresses of (at least) two referees;

Please note:

• A pre-employment screening can be part of the selection procedure.
• A knowledge security check will be part of the selection procedure.
  (for details page 45: national knowledge security guidelines)
• Applying for an exemption for specific research and educational areas is an obligatory part of the selection procedure for this vacancy. This exemption must be obtained from the Ministry of Education, Culture and Science (OCW) before an employment contract is agreed upon. Click here for more information.
• You can apply online. We will not process applications sent by email and/or post.
• Please do not contact us for unsolicited services.