2 PhD positions on contract-based design of complex dynamical systems

Are you passionate about dynamical systems and system theory? Are you interested in making the design process of complex dynamical systems simpler by smart new tools for systems engineering? Are you eager to apply and valorize scientific results in this field in high-tech domains such as semiconductor machines and robots, together with highly innovative companies? Would you like to work in a team of 4 PhD students? Then, these PhD positions are made for you!

Information
We invite highly motivated students with a strong background in dynamical systems, mathematical system theory and control, and structural dynamics to apply for one of these PhD positions within the Dynamics and Control section at the Department of Mechanical Engineering, Eindhoven University of Technology. The mission of the Dynamics and Control Section is to perform research and train next-generation students [BB1] on the topic of understanding and predicting the dynamics of complex engineering systems in order to develop advanced control, estimation, planning, and learning strategies which are at the core of the intelligent autonomous systems of the future: Designing and realizing smart autonomous systems for industry and society.

Complex high-tech systems, such as semiconductor equipment, robots, industrial printers, self-driving cars, electron microscopes, etc., consists of many interconnected modules, together warranting the functionalities with[BB2] extreme requirements on speed and accuracy, for example to make the AI chips of the future. Translating requirements on the dynamical behaviour of the system as whole to design specifications (on dynamical behaviour) for these modules is an extremely challenging task, now typically performed by highly experienced system engineers.

Within this project, in which 4 PhD students will be employed (two at the Eindhoven University of Technology and two at Groningen University, both in the Netherlands), you will develop novel tools based on contract-based system theory to automate and make more precise these translations between system and module requirements. This will make design process both better and faster.

The first vacancy at TU/e involves a position with which tools will be developed to analyze system-level dynamics-related requirements (on both time- and frequency domain behaviour) on the basis of such requirements on the modules of which the system consists. Within the second vacancy, this challenge is considered for a particularly important class of systems, namely second-order structural dynamics systems with nonlinearities, often encountered in mechatronic and robotic applications.

You will have the chance to collaborate with 4 different high-tech companies in the field of chip manufacturing and robotics to apply the developed results in an industrial context, thereby building both a strong academic and industrial profile.

You will have access to the graduate courses at the Dutch Institute of Systems and Control (DISC) and the Engineering Mechanics Research School (EM) and will have the opportunity to collaborate with industry in the Brainport region and academic researchers worldwide. By joining us, you will be part of a vibrant community of more than 60 researchers including faculty members, postdocs and PhDs working on diverse topics in the field of dynamical systems and control and its applications.

This PhD position is jointly supervised by Nathan van de Wouw and Bart Besselink (University of Groningen).