PhD Position Approximate Edge Intelligence for Automated Driving Services

This PhD project is part of the EU Flagship Horizon Marie Curie ITN project. The offered PhD position is to explore the usage of approximate and edge computing for latency demanding automated driving services.

In comparison with applying approximate computing in the cloud, the edge layer is clearly a more suitable domain to harness the features of approximate computing in terms of fault tolerance and energy efficiency that are required by future battery powered smart vehicles. To strike a balance among latency, accuracy and safety, you will investigate, design, and develop both the platform and the fundamental building blocks such as edge offloading and hw-sw integration for accelerating inferences for service demands from automated driving and in-car multi-media services. By utilizing edge computing as enabler for a new class of real-time data analytic services, such edge-driven approximate computing will reshape the existing cloud-based processing pipelines for automated driving. In terms of impact, the knowledge from this new approximate edge computing paradigm can further power future cyber-physical and network services, such as cognitive assistance and proactive accident prevention for automated driving.

During the PhD, the candidate will conduct this research and prepare scientific articles presenting the research at conferences and in journals. To enable the candidate to do this successfully, TU Delft offers personal and professional training courses in the form of a graduate school, in which the candidate will participate (the fee is paid by the project and there are no additional costs for this). Furthermore, in addition to her/his scientific supervisors, the applicant will receive an independent senior research as mentor, to aid her personal career development.

Department
The ESS department sees approximate edge computing as an important and growing area of research for building energy-efficient, resilient and scalable cyber-physical infrastructures. Research at ESS contributes to foster a cooperative and resilient computing ecosystem that can scale to the IoT growth, and help forge a new channel for innovation. Our research sheds light on how to achieve long-term sustainability in the next generation cyber-physical systems, i.e., smart transport and energy systems. In this context, we are looking for PhD candidate interested in research on such design optimization, with the goal of improving energy efficiency by a factor of 10x-50x.

The candidate must have a master's degree in computer science, information science, engineering, or a similar degree with an academic level equivalent to the master's degree in engineering. Excellent academic records in analytical, mathematical and programming (Python/Java/C++) are preferred. Good command of spoken and written English is required. Development experience with mobile, transport or energy systems is a plus.

The position is part of Horizon Marie Curie ITN project and entails the following tasks: 1) Design and develop an approximate edge computing platform for next generation autonomous driving services, to achieve low latency, resiliency, and better quality of experience for end users; 2) Evaluate the feasibility, practicality and scalability by deploying approximate computing at edge layer through real world experiment and measurements (e.g., in operational networks), in collaboration with industrial partners; 3) Contribute to teaching activities at ESS department.

As a Marie Curie ITN researcher, you will have the opportunity to conduct practical internships at world leading industrial companies through the EU ITN network.

The TU Delft offers a customisable compensation package, a discount for health insurance and sport memberships, and a monthly work costs contribution. Flexible work schedules can be arranged. Coming to Delft Service organizes diverse events for new international employees and their accompanying partners, like Partner Career Workshops and Dutch Culture Workshops. Located on campus are the International Children’s Centre and an international primary school which are subject to availability as well as several bilingual schools in the nearby surrounding. Salary and benefits are in accordance with the Collective Labour Agreement for Dutch Universities.

As a PhD candidate you will be enrolled in the TU Delft Graduate School. TU Delft Graduate School provides an inspiring research environment; an excellent team of supervisors, academic staff and a mentor; and a Doctoral Education Programme aimed at developing your transferable, discipline-related and research skills. For more information, please click here.

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