PhD Towards Competent Automated Driving Vehicles

Eindhoven University of Technology is an internationally top-ranking university in the Netherlands that combines scientific curiosity with a hands-on attitude. Our spirit of collaboration translates into an open culture and a top-five position in collaborating with advanced industries. Fundamental knowledge enables us to design solutions for the highly complex problems of today and tomorrow.

The Department of Mechanical Engineering department conducts world-class research aligned with the technological interests of the high-tech industry in the Netherlands, with a focus on the Brainport region. Our goal is to produce engineers who are both scientifically educated and application-driven by providing a balanced education and research program that combines fundamental and application aspects. We equip our graduates with practical and theoretical expertise, preparing them optimally for future challenges.

Introduction

Are you excited about a future where robo-taxis are easily accessible to all, especially the elderly and the mobility challenged? Would you like to help make that future a reality? Join us while we create the first “driving competence exam” for automated vehicles!

Job Description

For the near future, driving will remain a form of social interaction because it is performed by people. When we join traffic, we have a clear understanding of the social norms of driving. We know what to expect from other road users and what they expect from us, and we can intuitively recognize who around us drives according to these expectations. Moreover, safety in traffic is the result of interactions among drivers who have the knowledge and training to drive competently, and that are licensed to do so.

But now that more self-driving cars are joining traffic (e.g., Teslas with Full Self-Driving capabilities, or Waymos) the questions arise: how do we know these vehicles can indeed drive competently among us? Can their understanding of our complex social interactions be assessed or measured? What is indeed competent driving and how can we assess it?

Here is where you come in! Within the EU project CERTAIN (Resilient and continuous safety assurance methodology for CCAM and its HMI components) you will join the Dynamics and Control section at the Mechanical Engineering Department and help create and implement an objective, scalable, data-based, methodology to assess driving competence. That is, you will:

• Conduct a detailed literature analysis on objective assessment of driving competence.
• Formalize driving behaviors in mathematical relationships among kinematic and environmental variables, together with traffic rules and infrastructure information.
• Process naturalistic driving data to determine how these relationships are maintained by competent human drivers.
• Develop a method to assess whether a drivers (human or otherwise) drive competently by comparing their driving data to that of competent drivers.
• In close collaboration with TNO and several of the other 23 international CERTAIN partners, implement the assessment methodology in TNO’s Carlabs for demonstration in one of the key use cases of the CERTAIN project.

There are several potential strategies that could be used for assessment. One is the well-established “scenario-based testing” methodology, in which a vehicle under test is offered, via simulations, multiple instances of different driving scenarios. The responses to these scenarios are then used for assessment. Another is a more system-theoretic approach would be to fit a model to the self-driving algorithm of the vehicle under test, which is then compared to a reference model of a competent driver. You, as a PhD candidate, will have the freedom to explore these and other options and provide a theoretical foundation for the strategy you select.

Job Requirements

Eligibility criteria:

• A master's degree (or equivalent).
• High-level English proficiency.

Required skills:

• A master's degree in transport engineering, automotive technology, human factors, systems and control or equivalent, with a thesis showing experience on data processing, modelling and analysis.
• Affinity with and/ or interest in human factors in road safety and modelling of driving behavior.
• Programming skills in Matlab, Python, or similar.
• Strong conceptual and analytical skills
• Proven ability to undertake research.
• Demonstrable research, writing and presentation skills.
• The ability to work both independently and as part of a team.

Optional skills (preferred but not required):

• Knowledge of driving models and automated vehicle instrumentation
• Familiarity with machine learning and/or system identification

English language requirements:

• Proof of English language proficiency: You should meet either of these:
  • C2 proficiency (formally known as CPE): minimum score of 180 (at least 169 per section)
  • C1 advanced certificate (formally known as CAE): minimum score of 176 (at least of 169 per section)
  • IELTS: Overall band score of at least 6.5 and a minimum of 6.0 for each section
  • TOEFL: Overall band score of at least 6.5 and a minimum of 6.0 for each section

Doing a PhD at Eindhoven University of Technology requires good English proficiency 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 School English proficiency requirements

Conditions of Employment

• A meaningful job in a dynamic and ambitious university, in an interdisciplinary setting and within an international network. You will work on a beautiful, green campus within walking distance of the central train station. In addition, we offer you: 
• Full-time employment for four years, with an intermediate assessment after nine months. You will spend a minimum of 10% of your four-year employment on teaching tasks, with a maximum of 15% per year of your employment. 
• Salary and benefits (such as a pension scheme, paid pregnancy and maternity leave, partially paid parental leave) in accordance with the Collective Labour Agreement for Dutch Universities, scale P (min. € 2,901 max. € 3,707).  
• A year-end bonus of 8.3% and annual vacation pay of 8%. 
• High-quality training programs and other support to grow into a self-aware, autonomous scientific researcher. At TU/e we challenge you to take charge of your own learning process. 
• An excellent technical infrastructure, on-campus children's day care and sports facilities.  
• An allowance for commuting, working from home and internet costs. 
• A Staff Immigration Team and a tax compensation scheme (the 30% facility) for international candidates. 

Information

Do you recognize yourself in this profile and would you like to know more? Please contact the hiring manager Assistant Professor Arturo Tejada Ruiz, at [email protected].

Visit our website for more information about the application process or the conditions of employment. You can also contact HR Services Gemini [email protected] or HR Advice [email protected]. 

Are you inspired and would like to know more about working at TU/e? Please visit our career page.

Application

We invite you to submit a complete application by using the apply button. The application should include a:

• Cover letter in which you describe your motivation and qualifications for the position.
• Curriculum vitae, including a publications list (if available), achievements relevant to the positions, etc.
• Contact information of two references.
• A copy of your master thesis.
• Bachelor and master courses grade lists, issued by the university where you got your degrees.

We look forward to receiving your application and will screen it as soon as possible. The vacancy will remain open until the position is filled.