PhD Position available

[Guido.Bugmann xtn 2566]

A PhD position is available immediately to work on the project "The
Plymouth Hand" at the University of Plymouth, UK.  This project comprises
an application of neural networks to control.

The aim of that project is to develop a robot/prosthetic hand with slippage
detection as a source of feedback for the control of the grip pressure.

A working prototype has been built which can lift a cylinder of solid steel
and also a hollow rolled sheet of A4 paper without deforming it.

Further work comprises:

1. Derivation of a practical specification for two systems using the
slippage detection adaptive grasping force technique, i.e. a robot gripper
and a prosthetic hand.

2. Kinematically model a range of proposed designs using virtual reality
software.

3. Validate appropriate kinematic models

4. Design, build and test an improved version of the existing device to
meet the specifications of a robot gripper. In particular:

a) Software environment will be investigated e.g.  assembly code, C, etc
and an appropriate one chosen and developed. New techniques such as rule
based (fuzzy logic) and neural networks will be investigated.

b) Design and development of the power electronics and drive system.

c) Specify and test the necessary microcontroller.

5) Same as 4) but as an adaptation of an existing NHS prostethic hand.
----------------------------------------------------

The salary in the standard range 5-6 Kpounds/year
for PhD students.

For further information, please
contact:

Paul Robinson
Dept. of Electrical and Electronic Engineering
University of Plymouth
Plymouth PL4 8AA
United Kingdom

Phone (+44) 1752 23 25 95 / 72
Fax (+44) 1752 23 25 83
-----------------------------------------------------