Deakin-Coventry Cotutelle - Intelligent Real-time UAV Autonomy Under Cyberattack

This is a doctoral cotutelle project between Deakin University (Australia) and Coventry University (United Kingdom). The successful PhD Student will be awarded a scholarship from Coventry University with the supervision team being drawn from Deakin University and Coventry University. The PhD Student will graduate with two testamurs, one from Deakin University and one from Coventry University, each of which recognises that the program was carried out as part of a jointly supervised doctoral program. The program is for a duration of 3.5 years and scheduled to commence in 2023.

The PhD Student is anticipated to spend up to 12 months of the total period of the program at Deakin University, with the remainder of the program based at Coventry University.

The current state-of-the-art command and control UAV/UAS (Unmanned Aerial Vehicles/Unmanned Aerial Systems) heavily rely on original and modified open-source hardware and software architectures e.g., real-time and Linux-based operating systems, Robot Operating System (ROS), and widely used communication technologies such as VHF, 3G – 5G, and Satellite services on both the UAV flying platforms and the Ground Station/s. These architectures have some inherited security and reliability vulnerabilities at system, software, and hardware levels that can result in UAV/UAS data alteration or corruption under cyber-attacks. New continuous authentication techniques could potentially identify unauthorized and/or data corruption, nevertheless, during the identification and correction period the UAS/UAV system could lack real-time navigation data.

Applications close 5pm, Saturday 27 May 2023

Please be aware that screening for this advert will commence immediately and the scholarship may be awarded prior to the closing date.

This  scholarship is supported by Coventry University, is available over 3.5 years and includes:

• Stipend of £17,000 per annum
• A Tuition Fee Waiver
• Travel Support Package including one return economy airfare to Deakin University to support residency period in Australia
• Student visa and health insurance costs for period of residency at Deakin University in Australia

Deakin University will also provide a full tuition fee waiver for a duration of up to 4 years.

To be eligible you must:

• meet the PhD entry requirements of both Deakin University and Coventry university, including:
  • English language proficiency requirements (IELTS overall minimum score of 7.0 with a minimum of 6.5 in each component)
  • have achieved 80% or equivalent in the research component of their previous study or an equivalent level of academic attainment, taking into account previous study, relevant work experience, research publications and other research experience
  • meet all other minimum entry requirements according to the Higher Degrees by Research (HDR) Admission, Selection and Enrolment Procedure.
• be enrolling full time
• be able to physically locate to both Coventry University (UK) and Deakin University (Australia)
• have experience in:
  • Digital Systems
  • Linux
  • Open Source Software
  • Programming Experience (Python, C/C++)
  • (Preferable) Open-source development boards e.g Raspberry pi

Please refer to the research degree entry pathways page and Coventry’s research entry criteria page for further information.