Mechanical Engineering: Fully Funded EPSRC and Swansea PhD: Collaborative Robotics Technology for Assembly and Disassembly of Fiddly Shaped Objects in Manufacturing Environment

Funding providers: Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council (EPSRC) and Swansea University's Faculty of Science and Engineering

Subject areas: Robotics

Project start date: 

• 1 October 2024 (Enrolment open from mid-September)

Project supervisors: 

• Dr Ashraf Ahmed Fahmy (A.A.Fahmy@Swansea.ac.uk)
• Professor Johann Sienz

Aligned programme of study: PhD in Mechanical Engineering

Mode of study: Full or Part-time study is possible.

Project description: 

Assembly and disassembly of uncertain shapes, sizes, conditions, and fiddly shaped objects forms a great challenge in manufacturing when considered for automated and robotic processes. This is because it needs a lot of correct identification, dexterity, flexibility, and manoeuvring capabilities of the manipulators. In most cases, it ends-up for manual and tedious processes with limited or no robotics support to human operators. However, this results in increased cost of product repair, end of life decommissioning, and disassembly for replacing parts. This project will focus on understanding the technologies and methods required for flexible and adaptable autonomous assembly and disassembly processes using robotic manipulators associated with humanoid hands and vision system for human-like performance for uncertain shapes, sizes, conditions, and fiddly shaped objects. The project objectives can be summarised as: 

• Conducting a fundamental investigation into human assembly and disassembly dexterity of fiddly shaped objects using both arms and hand. 
• Using the knowledge obtained in achieving Objective 1, planning, testing, learning and adaptation strategies for an example assembly and disassembly operations. 
• Using UR3E/UR5E robots and DLR-HIT II Robot Hands available in the robotics lab to build the infrastructure needed to implement the strategies developed in previous objective 2 in handling complex assembly and disassembly tasks. 

Eligibility

Candidates must hold a UK Bachelor degree with a minimum of Upper Second Class honours in Engineering or similar relevant science discipline, or overseas Bachelor degree deemed equivalent to UK Bachelor (by UK ECCTIS) and achieved a grade equivalent to UK Upper Second Class honours in Engineering or similar relevant science discipline.

Please note that you may need to provide evidence of your English Language proficiency. 

Due to funding restrictions, this scholarship is open to applicants eligible to pay tuition fees at the UK rate only. 

Funding Details

Additional Funding Information

This scholarship covers the full cost of tuition fees and an annual stipend at £19,237.

Additional research expenses will also be available.

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