HDR Scholarship - Artificial Intelligence-based Motion Cueing Algorithm for Driving Simulators

There are two scholarships available for this ARC Discovery Early Career Researcher Award (DECRA) project. One of the scholarships will be funded by ARC and the other by Deakin University. These exciting new PhD positions will generate research relevant to the development of high-fidelity driving simulators using novel Motion Cueing Algorithms, with a focus on Machine Learning, Control systems, Robotics and Human Factors. This project will be led by Dr. Houshyar Asadi at Institute for Intelligent Systems Research and Innovation (IISRI), Deakin University.

The social and emotional impact of road crashes in Australia and their economic cost can be significantly reduced by using robotic-based motion simulators for driver training, driving behaviour and performance evaluation and safety purposes. These drawbacks can be greatly reduced through use of motion simulators for virtual prototyping in Australia. Low fidelity and motion sickness are key drawbacks of existing simulators which demotivate participants and therefore negatively affect outcomes of training, user behaviour analysis and virtual prototyping. This project aims at addressing these by developing new motion cueing algorithms (MCAs) which are in charge of regenerating highly realistic driving and flying motion sensation while respecting the limitations of the simulator platforms.

The outcomes will provide the user with realistic virtual driving experience, thereby paving the way for far greater and more widespread applications. Dr. Houshyar Asadi is the recipient of an Australian Research Council Discovery Early Career Award (project number DE210101623) funded by the Australian Government.

Applications will remain open until a candidate has been appointed.

Both scholarships are available over 3 years.

• Stipend rate of $33,500 per annum tax exempt (2023 rate)
• The Deakin University funded stipend has a rate of $28,900 per annum tax exempt (2022 rate)
• International students only:  Tuition fees offset for the duration of 4 years. Single Overseas Student Health Cover policy for the duration of the student visa.

To be eligible you must:

• be either a domestic or international candidate currently residing in Australia. Domestic includes candidates with Australian Citizenship, Australian Permanent Residency or New Zealand Citizenship.
• meet Deakin's PhD entry requirements
• be enrolling full time and hold an honours degree (first class) or an equivalent standard master's degree with a substantial research component.

Please refer to the research degree entry pathways page for further information.

Additional desirable criteria include:

• Strong programming skills (Matlab, Python, or C++)
• Strong skills and experience in either of Robotics, Machine Learning, and Control systems
• Familiarity with Human Factors and signal processing techniques would be an advantage