You will explore the following research questions using advanced VR/XR setups and experiments with human volunteers: 1) How can we model visual, vestibular, proprioceptive, auditory, and olfactory cue integration in the context of spatial awareness? 2) How can we enhance estimations by scaling sensory cues? 3) How can we integrate less common cues such as vibrations under the feet, wind, haptic flow on the body, olfactory cues, thermal landmarks, etc. into the model? 4) How can we improve estimations by adding artificial cues?
You will work with researchers and advanced experimental facilities of the Human Media Interaction (HMI) group of the University of Twente in Enschede and the Human Machine Teaming department of The Netherlands Organisation for Applied Scientific Research (TNO) in Soesterberg, both in The Netherlands. An example of such an advanced experimental facility is the telepresence system in Soesterberg that was developed for the
XPRIZE Avatar competition. Furthermore, the Interaction Lab in Enschede has an impressive range of state-of-the-art equipment, provides a low-entry place where students and researchers collaborate, informing each other also on longer time spans after projects end.
This PhD position is funded by the Dutch Ministry of Defence. Because you will work in the domain of safety and security, a security screening is part of the procedure and a “certificate of no objection, level B” is mandatory.