Research Associate in Collaborative Human-Robot Control Interface for Intuitive Teleoperation

We are looking for a full-time research associate to collaborate on a human-robot control interface for intuitive teleoperation in unstructured environments for inspection, repair, and maintenance. You will conduct research on designing robotic impedance controllers to facilitate tele-operation in command centres as well as safe robot-environment interaction on remote sites. You will work with physical robot platforms and develop a teleoperation interface to provide haptic feedback and guidance on human operations. This will encompass robotic dynamics modelling, impedance control, haptic feedback design, robot-environment interaction control, disturbance regression, and conducting user studies. You will be expected to publish at world-leading refereed conferences and journals and demonstrate research outcomes on real robot platforms.

The role will also require regular contributions to a variety of academic tasks, including positively interacting and communicating with internal and external stakeholders, developing research proposals, management of research projects, supervising PhD, postgraduate, and undergraduate students, demonstrating research excellence and leadership to more junior members in the research lab.

Key Responsibilities

• Develop teleoperation interface with a robotic manipulator to facilitate human-robot interaction in remote handling.
• Design robot impedance control algorithms to enable the adjustment of robot impedance.
• Establish bilateral haptic communication between the robotic manipulators between the master and remote sides.
• Design intuitive haptic feedback to facilitate user remote environment perception.
• Estimate and integrate user intention in robotic control.
• Develop disturbance regression algorithms to enable accurate tracking and smooth interaction between the remote robot and environments with various characteristics.
• Implement algorithms into robotic systems for real-time execution.
• Work on project deliverables through independent research and joint collaboration.
• Publish at world-leading refereed conferences and journals.
• Actively participate in the research programme of the Lab.
• Conduct and plan own scientific work proactively with appropriate supervision.
• Communicate research progress with stakeholders through presentation, demonstration, and report writing.
• Assist in the supervision of undergraduate and postgraduate research students and other lab members as required.

Other Duties

• Ensure the validity and reliability of research results and data.
• Write reports for submission to stakeholders.
• Participate in Lab research meetings and internal seminars.
• Undertake any necessary training, safety courses, and/or development.
• Contribute to the smooth running of the Lab's facilities with other researchers, technicians, and students.
• Maintain accurate and complete records of all findings and experimental work, and full backup of research resources in the Lab facilities.

The successful applicant will join The University of Manchester's team at RAICo One Facility in West Cumbria. The applicant will have a unique opportunity to work in close partnership with robotics, control, and AI experts from the University of Manchester, Sellafield Ltd, and the UK Atomic Energy Authority, applying their knowledge and research work into real applications. RAICo One is a fully equipped robotics laboratory with state-of-the-art robotic research and development facilities including a wide range of robotic systems and robot test arenas.

What you will get in return:

• Fantastic market leading Pension scheme
• Excellent employee health and wellbeing services including an Employee Assistance Programme
• Exceptional starting annual leave entitlement, plus bank holidays
• Additional paid closure over the Christmas period
• Local and national discounts at a range of major retailers

As an equal opportunities employer, we welcome applicants from all sections of the community regardless of age, sex, gender (or gender identity), ethnicity, disability, sexual orientation, and transgender status. All appointments are made on merit.

Our University is positive about flexible working. Hybrid working arrangements may be considered.