CLOSED: Fully Funded PhD Scholarship: Augmented Reality for the Visually Impaired - Sensing

Note that this position is now closed.

The Robotic Imaging Lab at the University of Sydney, Australia has a fully funded PhD position open in augmented reality for the visually impaired, in partnership with ARIA LLC.

Applicants with a strong background in Mechatronic, Electrical, or Computer Engineering, Computer Science, or similar programs are encouraged to apply.

Project ARIA, Augmented Reality in Audio, seeks to endow the visually impaired with a richer sense of their surroundings using a wearable augmented reality device. Building on technologies from robotics, augmented reality, and spatialised audio display, ARIA will deliver next-generation sensing with the potential to improve quality of life for millions of people affected by vision impairment worldwide.

There are multiple Postdoctoral and PhD roles open as part of Project ARIA, all postings will be available at ariaresearch.com.au. This Sensing-focused project will advance the sensing technologies required for the ARIA wearable device to perform reliably and efficiently in a breadth of usage scenarios.

Challenges arise where conventional sensing fails, including in low light, high dynamic range where bright regions overpower shadows, around shiny and transparent objects, and around dense occlusions. Key constraints are in available power, compute, and tolerance to latency.

The project's aims include:

• Establishing a physically accurate simulation environment to support rapid development and evaluation of novel sensor payload designs
• Adapting computational imaging technologies to propose novel sensing approaches
• Characterising and calibrating sensor payloads through simulation, controlled lab experiments, and user trials
• Developing low-level vision algorithms to best make use of novel sensing payloads
• Supporting development of the high-level perception algorithms and the full device mapping and display pipeline

Embedded in the Australian Centre for Field Robotics, the Robotic Imaging Lab is focused on endowing robots with new ways of seeing their world. From photons to actions, we employ computational imaging techniques to jointly consider the optics, low-level vision, and high-level semantic understanding that ultimately drive autonomous decision making.

The ACFR offers specialised imaging labs and facilities, robotic platforms including a range of autonomous passenger vehicles, and robotic field labs across on-campus and nearby off-campus sites. You will have access to mechanical and electronics workshops and a pool of technical staff to help realise your research ambitions. You will also have the opportunity to work closely with Project ARIA’s engineers and make use of their extensive development and testing facilities. The University of Sydney offers a rich academic setting in a world-class city, and the ACFR has strong ties to a network of nearby and international academic and industrial collaborators.

A fully funded 3.5-year PhD scholarship covering tuition fees and a stipend covering living expenses.

About You

Successful candidates will have:

• A bachelor’s degree in a relevant discipline
• Interest in developing novel embedded imaging systems and working with simulation environments
• Excellent communication and interpersonal skills
• Experience with one or more of imaging, image processing and/or computer vision
• Hands-on experience with embedded processing, ROS, Python, C++, and one or more video game or robotics simulation environments would be an asset

How to Apply

Application deadline extended to Aug 16, 2022 Midnight (Sydney time)

To apply, please email donald.dansereau@sydney.edu.au, with the subject line “ARIA PhD Application:” and your name. Include the following:

• CV
• Unofficial transcripts
• Cover letter

Please also include a link to a 2 minute video covering the following:

• Your strongest engineering skills
• What do you enjoy most about research
• A description of a project that you're proud of, or plan to be when completed

International Applicants

Domestic and international applicants are welcome. The Australian PhD is a 3.5-year program, generally with direct entry from an undergraduate degree with a final-year thesis project (see Admission Criteria below).

Candidates complete a total of two graduate-level classes of their choice as part of the PhD program. There are no doctoral qualifying / candidacy exams. Candidates complete a viva / oral thesis defence at the completion of the program.

Admission Criteria

Successful candidates will need to enrol in the University of Sydney's Doctor of Philosophy (Engineering) program. Enrolment requirements are listed on the University website here. Key requirements are:

• An Undergraduate or Master's degree with overall first-class Honours or equivalent, AND
• Some sort of research experience, either:
  • Completion of an Undergraduate degree with a final-year thesis/project, OR
  • Completion of a Master's by research degree, OR
  • Completion of a Master's by coursework degree with a substantial research project.

For Further Information

This Robotic Imaging Lab Website
Sydney Institute for Robotics and Intelligent Systems
Australian Centre for Field Robotics
Project ARIA Website
For any questions please email donald.dansereau@sydney.edu.au.