The University of Adelaide is offering the prestigious Codan Founders' PhD Scholarship program, created to honor the legacy of three distinguished alumni – Ian Wall, Alastair Wood, and Jim Bettison. These graduates established Codan, a South Australian company that has grown into a global leader in electronics solutions. Through this initiative, exceptional PhD candidates are supported to undertake applied research in electrical and mechanical engineering fields.
Currently, there is an exciting opportunity for an industry PhD with Minelab, focusing on semi-autonomous metal detector technology.
Project Description
Metal detectors serve various purposes across different environments – from prospecting for gold nuggets in the Australian outback to hunting for historical artifacts and clearing landmines left behind by conflicts. Minelab, a leading manufacturer of hand-held metal detection technologies, has collaborated with University of Adelaide researchers to develop this industry PhD opportunity.
The project will explore the use of semi-autonomous robots to increase the discovery rate of objects of interest. These robots could potentially take on multiple roles in the target discovery process, including:
Rapidly locating and flagging potential objects of interest in a geographic area for further inspection
Performing thorough analysis of flagged locations to confirm the presence of objects of interest
Research Objectives
The PhD project may involve several research areas, including but not limited to:
Control systems for end-effector dynamics & kinematics to maximize the signal-to-noise ratio of metal detectors, isolate them from vehicle-borne disturbances, and investigate efficient trajectory generation for "honing in" on detected signals
Decision and control systems for surveying regions to assist human operators
Study of trade-offs between various robotic platforms and sensors, considering terrain navigation ability, precision localization for data fusion with metal detectors, and size, weight, and power considerations
The successful candidate will have the opportunity to refine the project scope in collaboration with university and industry supervisors. Additionally, they will undertake a three-month internship at Minelab, working with the company's researchers on associated R&D projects.
Scholarship Details
The successful candidate will receive:
A Codan Founders' Scholarship of $42,500 per annum
Duration of 3.75 years
Likely tax exemption (subject to Taxation Office approval)
Detailed terms and benefits will be provided to the candidate in their Conditions of Award.
Supervision
The PhD candidate will work with a supervisory panel consisting of:
Dr. Will Robertson, School of Electrical and Mechanical Engineering, University of Adelaide
Associate Professor David Harvey, School of Electrical and Mechanical Engineering, University of Adelaide
Dr. Phil Wahrlich, Chief Scientist, Minelab
Eligibility Criteria
This opportunity is open to candidates who:
Meet the requirements for PhD admission at the University of Adelaide
Can demonstrate suitable experience in a related field (through a high-quality Honours or Masters degree)
Can enroll as a full-time PhD student at the University in the year of the offer
Can remain based in Adelaide, South Australia for the duration of the award
The scholarship is available to:
Australian Citizens
Australian Permanent Residents
New Zealand Citizens
Permanent Humanitarian Visa Holders
International Students
Application Process
To apply, email the following documents to Dr. Will Robertson (will.robertson@adelaide.edu.au) with the name of the scholarship in the subject line:
CV
Cover Letter (maximum 2 pages) outlining your interest in the PhD project and describing how your background and research area align with the project
Degree certificates and relevant academic transcripts, with translations of non-English documentation
Applications are open now and will remain open until the position is filled.
For more information about this opportunity and eligibility requirements, please contact HDR Industry Enquiries.
Apply for Codan Founders' PhD Scholarship
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