Connectionists: Research Associate/Research Fellow in Connected Autonomous Vehicle Simulation for Safety Assurance

[Tony Pipe]

Research Associate/Research Fellow in Connected Autonomous Vehicle 
Simulation for Safety Assurance

Full Description of post and application via: https://bit.ly/3kZ8kh2

Location:                           Frenchay Campus, Bristol, UK
Job reference                     R01866
Hours:                               Full Time
Contract Type:                   Fixed-Term/Contract for 12 months

Application closing date    23/12/2020
Salary                                Grade F salary - £30,046-£33,797 & 
Grade G salary - £33,797-£35,845.
Job Type                            Academic, Research

About us and the context:

Bristol Robotics Laboratory (BRL) is the most comprehensive academic 
centre for multi-disciplinary robotics research in the UK. It is a 
collaborative partnership between the University of the West of England 
(UWE Bristol) and the University of Bristol, and home to a vibrant 
community of over 250 academics, researchers and industry practitioners. 
Together, they are world leaders in current thinking on service 
robotics, intelligent autonomous systems and bio-engineering. The 
state-of-the-art facilities covers an area of over 3,500 sq. metres 
(over 37,000 sq. feet) and BRL is an internationally recognised Centre 
of Excellence in Robotics.

This post is for a UWE Bristol researcher role. We are looking to 
appoint at either the level of Research Associate or at Research Fellow. 
The latter is a more senior appointment level but the post holder will 
be part of a large project team and we will adjust the expected level of 
work output and of managerial supervision to suit the level at which we 
appoint.

UWE Bristol is an ambitious university. Together, our people are working 
hard to advance knowledge, inspire people and transform futures. At 
either appointment level, we are looking for people with the skills and 
ambition to help us achieve those aims.

The Innovate UK funded CAV Forth project is motivated by the opportunity 
to gain significant socioeconomic benefit in the Public Service Vehicle 
sector by automation of a bus service. The prime objective of the 
project, therefore, is to evaluate a commercially operational extended 
pilot service involving buses that will be either partially or fully 
autonomously (with supervision) over a 10-mile route, taking passengers 
across the Forth Bridge near Edinburgh.

One of our main contributions to the project overall, is to build on 
expertise developed in collaboration with researchers at the University 
of Bristol during previous Connected Autonomous Vehicle (CAV) projects, 
to develop a simulation-based test-bench for the route using 
state-of-the-art vehicle simulator software and hardware. Using 
simulation, we are designing scenarios that stretch the vehicle’s 
control systems and, where it is important to do so, test human 
participants’ reactions to selected scenarios. Clearly these situations 
can be much more easily varied in a known way so as to identify more 
critical scenario conditions than those which can safely be tested in 
the real world.

The project is part way through its execution period and this limits the 
period of employment to 12 months.

About you:

Although there will be significant interaction with those at BRL and 
others working on the CAV-Forth project, this position is focused 
predominantly on developing and using the simulation platform to 
investigate and discover the, so called, ‘corner cases’ (the most 
safety-critical situations) that need to be tested in the real-world, 
and to carry out simulator-based tests with participants. Thus, we will 
guide the focus for, and maximise the benefits from, the expensive and 
risky real-world testing to be carried out prior to implementing the 
20-mile pilot driving route. To achieve this, you will utilise the 
results of recent research, carried out in Bristol, on simulation-based 
verification and validation techniques for autonomous vehicles. You will 
focus, in collaboration with the CAV-Forth partners, on a variety of 
autonomy functions and use case scenarios.

More details of required or desirable knowledge, expertise, skills, job 
purpose and responsibilities for each of the two levels of appointment 
can be found in the Job Descriptions associated with this advertisement.

In addition to progressive pay rates, UWE Bristol offers a wide range of 
staff benefits including:
         a generous holiday allowance
         • up to 12.5 bank holiday/closure days per year in addition
         • flexible working
         • excellent defined benefit pension schemes
         • option to participate in the cycle to work scheme
         • family friendly policies
         • onsite nursery at our Frenchay Campus.

This post is based in the Bristol Robotics Laboratory that is situated 
at our lively Frenchay campus where we have invested in the latest 
facilities and resources to give our students access to everything they 
need to succeed – with £300m having been spent recently on new 
state-of-the-art learning spaces and accommodation to enhance our offer 
even further. Frenchay campus is within close proximity to excellent 
motorway links and within walking distance of two train stations, making 
UWE Frenchay Campus the ideal place to work for those wishing to commute 
to Bristol.

Further information:

This is a full time, fixed term contract for 12 months and not available 
on a job share basis, due to the tight interlinked nature of the 
project’s goals and inter-partner schedule.

If you would like an informal discussion, please contact Prof. Tony Pipe 
at: Tony.Pipe at brl.ac.uk.

UWE is committed to supporting and promoting equality and diversity to 
create an inclusive working environment. We believe this can be achieved 
through attracting, developing, and retaining a diverse range of staff 
from many different backgrounds who share our ambition to be a 
university recognised for the success and impact of our 
practice-oriented programmes; our strong industry networks and our 
inclusive global outlook.

 From 1 January 2021 we will be able to sponsor candidates for this role 
under the Home Office Tier 2 Points Based System (skilled worker route). 
Please read the attached guide at the full application link on the new 
criteria to assess if you will be eligible to be sponsored under the 
criteria.

Please also refer to the Home Office Right to Work Checklist which 
provides details of which documents are acceptable. Should you be 
shortlisted you will be asked to bring your right to work documents with 
you to your interview so they can be copied and verified at that stage.

The interviews are planned for early January 2021.

-- 


Tony Pipe, Professor of Robotics and Autonomous Systems

Bristol Robotics Laboratory

T-Building

University of the West of England

Frenchay Campus

Bristol UK BS16 1QY

Tel: +44 (0)117 3286330

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