Job title:
Phd Position in Aircraft Trajectory Optimisation
Company:
Job description
Offer DescriptionContextThe advent of state-of-the-art industrial solutions for in-flight trajectory optimisation has paved the way for both electronic flight bags (EFB) implementations and cloud-based solutions. This versatility could allow different airlines to apply, for instance, the same optimisation algorithms but with data inputs from varying meteorological service providers, highlighting the necessity for a more service-oriented architecture. Such an architecture would not only modularise key components (such as the optimisation algorithm) and data sources, but also incorporate various auxiliary elements: e.g., estimators for operational conditions such as delays at terminal airspace, the probability of route shortcuts, and taxi-in times; performance indicator estimators like the cost of delay or ice super saturated regions (ISSR) characteristics; or even tailored aircraft performance models. Moreover, these components can employ diverse methodologies ranging from simple heuristics to more advanced technics based on artificial intelligence. This underscores the need for a flexible, modular system architecture that can adapt to the dynamic and complex nature of in-flight trajectory planning in a more and more interconnected and digitalised aviation.PhD descriptionThe proposed PhD study aims to investigate in-flight trajectory replanning algorithms considering the broader implications of flight operations, from passenger-centric metrics to the environmental impact of non-CO2 emissions. A multi-objective optimisation approach will be investigated, driven by the needs and particularity of aircraft operations and ATM. A special focus will be given to uncertainty, studying the potential benefits of an algorithm that adapts to diminishing uncertainties as the flight progresses. Moreover, the software prototypes developed in this PhD will be designed, from the very beginning, with a service-oriented architecture that could benefit from (and could contribute to) third party applications.The research will be supported by an industrial advisory board (IAB) formed by Airbus (coordinator of CICONIA SESAR project), Thales (topic manager in Pilot3 CleanSky 2 project) and PACE (partner in Pilot3). These non-academic partners will continuously monitor the progress of the research and will provide valuable insights and feedback, particularly in research areas with strong industry relevance, while not forgetting as well the exploratory nature of the PhD. Finally, the University of Westminster (coordinator of Pilot3) will also join this advisory board and will give particular feedback and support in passenger-centric metrics. Some members of this board will potentially host the PhD candidate for a secondment at their premises.Main advisor short bioXavier Prats is a full professor at the Universitat Politècnica de Catalunya (UPC). Ph.D. in aerospace science and technology from UPC, he also holds a Telecommunications Engineering degree (Telecom Barcelona) and Aeronautical Engineering degree (ENAC, Toulouse). He co-founded the ICARUS research group and is currently leading the air traffic management (ATM) and aircraft operations research activities within it. His main research interests include improving and measuring the performance of the ATM, optimising flight operations, and reducing the environmental impact of aviation. He has participated in various SESAR and CleanSky projects as principal investigator and led numerous consultancy projects with industry or public agencies close to aviation or ATM domains. Prof. Prats has published 50+ scientific papers in air transportation in peer-reviewed indexed journals and 130+ papers in conference proceedings. He has supervised 8 PhD thesis and was the coordinator of the doctoral programme in aerospace science and technology at UPC from 2019 to 2023. Scientific production available .RequirementsResearch Field Engineering » Other Education Level Master Degree or equivalentResearch Field Mathematics » Other Education Level Master Degree or equivalentResearch Field Physics » Other Education Level Master Degree or equivalentSkills/Qualifications
- BSc/MSc degree in Engineering (preferably aerospace, transportation, computer science or telecom) and/or mathematics and/or physics.
- Solid mathematical background and outstanding academic records.
- Creative thinking and strong team working skills.
- Motivation to conduct high-quality research, including publishing the results in relevant venues and conferences.
- Knowledge in aeronautical, aircraft operations and air traffic management fields is not essential (for those candidates very “computer science oriented”), but some basic understanding and/or motivation in these fields will be valued.
- Familiarisation with the SESAR and CleanSky2 research programmes will be nice to have.
Specific Requirements
- Very strong algorithmic, programming and computational problem-solving skills.
- Good understanding of software engineering processes, procedures, methodologies and tools.
- Excellent communication skills in oral and written English
- Knowledge on Python (C/C++ would be a plus).
Languages ENGLISH Level ExcellentAdditional InformationBenefits
- 4 year contract. Test period of 6 months.
- PhD enrolment and tuition fees covered by the research group.
- Funding for secondments and travelling to conferences available.
Eligibility criteriaApplicants shall send a CV and motivation letter to Prof. Xavier Prats to the designated e-mail address clearly indicating the job offer reference number (ENGAGE2-PhD). Please provide the name and contact details of at least two people that could recommend/endorse the candidate.Selection process
- Stage 1: first filtering based on CVs
- Stage 2: second filtering and selection of the final candidate based on videoconference interview(s)
Work Location(s)Number of offers available 1 Company/Institute Department of physics – Aerospace Division Country Spain State/Province Catalonia City Castelldefels (Barcelona) Postal Code 08860 Street Esteve Terradas, 5 GeofieldWhere to apply E-mail[email protected]Contact CityBarcelona WebsiteStreetC. Jordi Girona, 31 Postal Code08034 E-Mail[email protected]STATUS: EXPIRED
Expected salary
Location
Castelldefels, Barcelona
Job date
Thu, 30 May 2024 06:56:24 GMT
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