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PhD Student
PhD in 3D-printed drone components with embedded sensors and nanogenerators Full-time NEW
The Dynamics Lab of Dr. Rolanas Dauksevicius at the Institute of Mechatronics in Kaunas University of Technology (KTU) invites self-driven and skilled engineering candidates to apply for a competition-based admission to a doctoral study program in Mechanical Engineering under the PhD project ‘Rapid manufacturing of energy-efficient drone platform components integrated with multi-modal sensors and nanogenerators’.
Why is the proposed project relevant?
Diverse drone platforms (ground/aerial/marine robotic vehicles) are increasingly used in civilian and defense applications such as surveillance, environmental monitoring, infrastructure inspection, etc. However, the platforms are mostly produced with passive structural components (chassis, supports, covers, wings, etc.) that lack monolithic integration of electronic subsystems to improve compactness, reliability and multifunctionality. High-performance platform architectures rely on 3D Mechatronic Integrated Devices (3D-MID) to reduce wiring, weight and bulkiness. More advanced 3D-MID components also contain embedded active devices such as multi-modal sensors and nanogenerators. They enable self-diagnostics and vibration energy harvesting to make platforms more robust and energy efficient. Highly customized 3D-MIDs may be rapidly fabricated using multi-material extrusion-based additive manufacturing (MEX AM) to print both soft and hard structural or electronic materials (e.g. composites with conductive, ferroelectric, dielectric, magnetic and other performance-enhancing active fillers). Easily configurable MEX AM process would enable direct co-integration of diverse sensors and nanogenerators into platform components. Development of such monolithic additive process will contribute to faster development of easily customizable, more autonomous and resilient drone platforms, promoting sustainability via reduced material and energy use.
What are you going to do?
The PhD project aims to develop an effective MEX AM process for monolithic additive fabrication of 3D-MID components with structure-integrated sensors and nanogenerators. The PhD project will focus on: extrusion and characterization of multifunctional composite filaments/granules with superior mechanical properties and tailored active properties (e.g. conductive, piezoelectric, dielectric, magnetic), development and validation of multi-material integrated FFF/FGF/DIW-based workflow for monolithic rapid fabrication (possibly integrated with auxiliary photonic and/or thermal in-situ processing), DfAM and simulation-based design, 3D-MID prototyping and performance optimization of structure-embedded sensors and nanogenerators. Depending on applicant’s skillset the research objectives may include implementation of AI-assisted in-process quality control for the multi-material integrated FFF/FGF/DIW-based process. Targeted applications include geometrically complex and structurally efficient components with embedded SHM sensors and/or nanogenerators for integration into compact, lightweight and energy-efficient ground, aerial or marine drone platforms.
The project is mostly grounded in mechanical, materials, manufacturing and mechatronics engineering. Depending on applicant’s skillset the research work may include electronics, control or aerospace engineering activities.
How to get more information?
More information is available here (https://admissions.ktu.edu/phd/#dates-and-deadlines-to-doctoral-studies-coordinated-by-the-KTU). PhD applicants should contact Dr. Rolanas Dauksevicius (https://orcid.org/0000-0002-4571-757X) by e-mail with their CV, copies of diplomas with transcripts and GPA, at least one reference, weblinks to published scientific papers or their pdf copies.