Active Sonar Perception Inspired by BatsThe ChiRoPing project is offering a Postdoc job in Active Sonar Perception Inspired by Bats at the University of Southern Denmark, Odense, Denmark. The project runs for three years from 01/02/2008 -- 31/01/2011. The principal objective of the project is to discover how to engineer embodied active sonar perception systems which can serve as a complement to vision and facilitate the deployment of robotic systems in situations where vision is infeasible. The project will implement and evaluate two demonstration systems built as biomimetic models of an insect gleaning and a water-trawling bat species respectively. It will use a classic biomimetic methodology, involving close collaboration between bat ethologists and roboticists. It will proceed by identifying and measuring the relevant acoustic and morphological parameters of a few carefully selected bat species, reconstructing from that the bat's acoustic experience as it flies through natural hunting tasks. From this data, computational models of how the bat coordinates its acoustic, behavioural and morphological choices during hunting will be elicited and implemented on appropriate robotic systems. What we expectRecent PhD diploma in one of the areas of acoustics, robotics or signal processing. Extensive expertise in C programming and mathematics/signal analysis/ pattern recognition is necessary. What we offerWe offer a full-time position with a maximum duration of 3 years on an exciting research project in an active and reputable research group. The gross salary for the PostDoc will be according to the standard rates and conditions at the University of Southern Denmark. Information and applicationApplication deadline 15 May. To apply see here. For information please contact Professor John Hallam, john AT mmmi.sdu.dk |
Useful linksA presentation of the main points of the project. Related Projects
CIRCE (Chiroptera Inspired Robotic CEphaloid) which reproduced, at a functional level, the echolocation system of bats by constructing a bionic bat head that was used to systematically investigate how the world is not just perceived but actively explored by bats. This bionic bat head is of similar size to a real bat head to reproduce the relevant physics and consist of an emission/reception system capable of generating/processing bat vocalisations in real-time, a multi-degree of freedom mechanical system to allow realistic pinnae movement. CILIA Customized Intelligent Life-inspired Arrays, about sensory systems based on arrays of hairs. The project aims to identify the common principles underlying the widespread use in nature of arrays of mechanical sensory cells for the extraction of meaning under adverse conditions and to make those principles available for design of engineered systems. | ||
