PhD Position Rotating Cylindical Wing

PhD Position Rotating Cylindrical Wing

Job description

Rotating cylindrical wings like the X-Zylo cylinders are toys that can be thrown up to 200 m, much further than the record distance of a paper airplane. Its stability comes from the spin with which it is thrown, much like a frisbee. Though it has been successful as a toy, its flying qualities have not been utilized in powered, controlled flight. Your job is to develop a powered and controlled gyroscopically stabilized rotating cylindrical wings micro air vehicle.

You will work on:

• Vehicle aerodynamic design using computational and experimental tools.
• Modeling vehicle dynamics.
• Integration of sensors, propulsion, and control actuators into the vehicle design.
• Developing control algorithms.
• Performing test flights. Both ground-based launches and air-based launches.
• Performing swarming tests of multiple rotating cylindrical wings.

You will work at the MAVLab, which is part of the Control & Simulation department of the Aerospace faculty at the TU Delft. The MAVLab is a growing group of enthusiastic researchers with expertise in control, MAV design, and autonomous flight, and a long tradition in the development of novel MAV concepts, like the Delfly, the Delftacopter, the Nederdrone, and the Skewing Wing Quadplane. In 2019, the MAVLab won the first edition of the prestigious autonomous drone race AlphaPilot. See mavlab.tudelft.nl.

Requirements

This position is perfect for you if you possess knowledge of system modeling and analysis, control engineering, and when you have experience with drones or other types of hardware. You have autodidactic skills and can independently conduct ground-breaking research. You have a strong research-oriented attitude, good communication skills, and the ability to transfer knowledge and effectively present your challenges and results during progress meetings.

You also have:

• An MSc in systems and control, mechanical engineering, aerospace engineering, or a related field.
• Programming experience in C and MATLAB/Simulink.
• Excellent command of the English language.
• Extras are experience with CAD software, 3D printing, and CFD software.

Does this position spark excitement in you? If you cannot tick all the boxes but are enthusiastic about drones and aerospace, we’d like to get to know you!

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.

Conditions of employment

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.

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

Additional information

If you would like more information about this vacancy or the selection procedure, please contact Ewoud Smeur, Assistant Professor, via e.j.j.smeur@tudelft.nl.