PhD Position Rotating Cylindical Wing

Job description
Rotating cylindical wings like the X-Zylo cylinders are toys that can be thrown up to to 200 m, much further than the record distance of a paper airplane. Its stability comes from the spin with which it is thrown, much like a frisbee. Though it has been succesful as a toy, its flying qualities have not been utilized in powered, controled flight. Your job is to develop a powered and controlled gyroscopically stabilized rotating cylindical wings micro air vehicle.

You will work on:

• Vehicle aerodynamic design using computational and experimental tools.
• Modeling vehicle dynamics.
• Integration of sensors, propulsiun and controle actuators into the vehicle design.
• Developing control algorithms.
• Performing test flights. Both ground based launches and air based launches.
• Performing swarming test of multiple rotating cylindrical wings.

You will work at the MAVLab, which is part of the Control & Simulation department of the Aerospace faculty at the TU Delft. The MAVLab is a growing group of enthusiastic researchers with expertise in control, MAV design, and autonomous flight, and a long tradition in the development of novel MAV concepts, like the Delfly, the Delftacopter, the Nederdrone and the Skewing Wing Quadplane. In 2019, the MAVLab won the first edition of the prestigious autonomous drone race AlphaPilot. See mavlab.tudelft.nl.

Requirements
This position is perfect for you if you possess knowledge of system modeling and analysis, control engineering, and when you have experience with drones or other types of hardware. You have autodidactic skills and can independently conduct ground-breaking research. You have a strong research-oriented attitude, good communication skills and the ability to transfer knowledge and effectively present your challenges and results during progress meetings.

You also have:

• An MSc in systems and control, mechanical engineering, aerospace engineering, or a related field.
• Programming experience in C and MATLAB/Simulink.
• Excellent command of the English language.
• Extras are experience with CAD software, 3D printing and CFD software

Does this position spark excitement in you? If you cannot tick all the boxes but enthusiastic about drones and aerospace, we’d like to get to know you!

TU Delft
Delft University of Technology is built on strong foundations. As creators of the world-famous Dutch waterworks and pioneers in biotech, TU Delft is a top international university combining science, engineering and design. It delivers world class results in education, research and innovation to address challenges in the areas of energy, climate, mobility, health and digital society. For generations, our engineers have proven to be entrepreneurial problem-solvers, both in business and in a social context.

At TU Delft we embrace diversity as one of our core values and we actively engage to be a university where you feel at home and can flourish. We value different perspectives and qualities. We believe this makes our work more innovative, the TU Delft community more vibrant and the world more just. Together, we imagine, invent and create solutions using technology to have a positive impact on a global scale. That is why we invite you to apply. Your application will receive fair consideration.

Challenge. Change. Impact!

Faculty Aerospace Engineering
The Faculty of Aerospace Engineering at Delft University of Technology is one of the world’s most highly ranked (and most comprehensive) research, education and innovation communities devoted entirely to aerospace engineering. More than 200 science staff, around 270 PhD candidates and close to 3000 BSc and MSc students apply aerospace engineering disciplines to address the global societal challenges that threaten us today, climate change without doubt being the most important. Our focal subjects: sustainable aerospace, big data and artificial intelligence, bio-inspired engineering and smart instruments and systems. Working at the faculty means working together. With partners in other faculties, knowledge institutes, governments and industry, both aerospace and non-aerospace. Working in field labs and innovation hubs on our university campus and beyond.

Click here to go to the website of the Faculty of Aerospace Engineering.

Conditions of employment
Doctoral candidates will be offered a 4-year period of employment in principle, but in the form of 2 employment contracts. An initial 1,5 year contract with an official go/no go progress assessment within 15 months. Followed by an additional contract for the remaining 2,5 years assuming everything goes well and performance requirements are met.

Salary and benefits are in accordance with the Collective Labour Agreement for Dutch Universities, increasing from € 2901 per month in the first year to € 3707 in the fourth year. As a PhD candidate you will be enrolled in the TU Delft Graduate School. The TU Delft Graduate School provides an inspiring research environment with an excellent team of supervisors, academic staff and a mentor. The Doctoral Education Programme is aimed at developing your transferable, discipline-related and research skills.

The TU Delft offers a customisable compensation package, discounts on health insurance, and a monthly work costs contribution. Flexible work schedules can be arranged.

Will you need to relocate to the Netherlands for this job? TU Delft is committed to make your move as smooth as possible! The HR unit, Coming to Delft Service, offers information on their website to help you prepare your relocation. In addition, Coming to Delft Service organises events to help you settle in the Netherlands, and expand your (social) network in Delft. A Dual Career Programme is available, to support your accompanying partner with their job search in the Netherlands.

Additional information
If you would like more information about this vacancy or the selection procedure, please contact Ewoud Smeur, Assistant Professor, via e.j.j.smeur@tudelft.nl.

Application procedure
Are you interested in this vacancy? Please apply no later than 28 February 2025 via the application button and upload the following documents:

• a detailed curriculum vitae that explicitly states your educational record, and (if applicable) working experience, recent achievements, technical hobby projects (photos/videos) and list of publications,
• a separate motivation letter stating why the proposed research topic interests you,
• the names of up to three persons who could be contacted for a reference,
• (Draft) MSc graduation thesis.

You can address your application to Ewoud Smeur, Assistant Professor.

Doing a PhD at TU Delft requires English proficiency at a certain level to ensure that the candidate is able to communicate and interact well, participate in English-taught Doctoral Education courses, and write scientific articles and a final thesis. For more details please check the Graduate Schools Admission Requirements.

Please note:

• You can apply online. We will not process applications sent by email and/or post.
• A pre-employment screening can be part of the selection procedure.
• For the final candidates, a knowledge security check will be part of the application procedure. For more information on this check, please consult Chapter 8 of the National Knowledge Security Guidelines. We carry out this check on the basis of legitimate interest.
• Applying for an exemption for specific research and educational areas is an obligatory part of the selection procedure for this vacancy. This exemption must be obtained from the Ministry of Education, Culture and Science (OCW) before an employment contract is agreed upon. Click here for more information.
• Please do not contact us for unsolicited services

36 - 40 hours per week

Mekelweg 5