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<p>Dear All,<br>
<br>
Please allow me to advertise the following Expression of Interest
for a job position at Research Centre “E. Piaggio”, University of
Pisa, Italy in the topic of “<i>Safe and efficient dynamic
manipulation in cluttered scenario</i>”. <br>
</p>
Best regards,<br>
Paolo Salaris
<p>%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%</p>
<p><b>#1 PostDoc position/Research Fellow at Research Centre “E.
Piaggio”: University of Pisa, within the EU H2020 project DARKO
(GA n. 01017274) in the topic of “Safe and efficient dynamic
manipulation in cluttered scenario”.</b><br>
<br>
<b>RESEARCH ACTIVITY</b><br>
<br>
The goal of the PostDoc is to advance the state-of-the-art in
mobile dynamic manipulation. The primary objective will be to
develop (possibly optimal) path planning and control strategies
that enable safe and efficient dynamic grasping and manipulation
(e.g., grasping of moving objects and throwing of them toward
desired positions) in cluttered environments (e.g., boxes on a
shelf) by using as a feedback the onboard sensors available on the
robot. Model-free methodologies base on sensory feedback will be
also explored for completely solving or just refining the
model-based solutions. The robotic platform used for testing all
the developed algorithms (and available in our lab) consists of an
omnidirectional mobile based with on top of it a manipulator
(Franka arm) equipped with a compliant gripper with an elastic
wrist.<br>
<br>
<b>THE POSITION</b><br>
<br>
The position is open until a satisfactory candidate is found.<br>
<br>
The PostDoc position is full-time for 1+1 years: upon completion
of the first year, a renewal will be granted if both parties are
satisfied.<br>
<br>
The position will be paid according to the current Italian salary
regulations for Postdoctoral scholars and will be determined
depending on the level of experience and research seniority of the
candidate.<br>
<br>
<b>REQUIRED SKILLS</b><br>
<br>
The successful candidate should ideally have: 1) a PhD in robotics
and automation, Mechanical/Information Engineering; 2) clear
publication record in the main robotics conferences/journals
(e.g., ICRA, IROS, RSS, RAL, TRO, IJRR, JFR, AURO); 3) good
experience with programming (C, C++, ROS1/ROS2), experience with
Matlab/Simulink and robotic simulation environments (e.g., Gazebo)
as well as computer vision and visual servoing will also be
appreciated; 4) strong interest in scientific robotics research:
both the more theoretical and algorithmic side of robotics (e.g.,
nonlinear and optimal control, estimation, trajectory planning,
machine learning approaches), but also the experimental one
(design and implementation of experiments with complex robots); 5)
Scientific curiosity, large autonomy and ability to work
independently; 6) Availability to co-supervise M.Sc. and Ph.D.
students; 7) Availability to travel to international conferences
and project meetings with partners.<br>
<br>
The activities will be mainly supervised by Prof. Paolo Salaris (<a
href="https://es.sonicurlprotection-fra.com/click?PV=2&MSGID=202404080952400131150&URLID=5&ESV=10.0.28.7941&IV=BED9575FEE1978809897593D659D4A3E&TT=1712569965717&ESN=u6hQuvBMJxdTjyq2wqe8swd4vVBPaI2095GSOlJW%2BTQ%3D&KV=1536961729280&B64_ENCODED_URL=aHR0cHM6Ly93d3cuY2VudHJvcGlhZ2dpby51bmlwaS5pdC9-c2FsYXJpcw&HK=39BF1E3F2AFDF2B468B6A48AD3A3EA11BCEAB13981B6B0166D6861C3D99B3391"
class="moz-txt-link-freetext">https://www.centropiaggio.unipi.it/~salaris</a>)
in collaboration with the other researchers of the robotics group
at the Research Centre “E. Piaggio”.<br>
<br>
THE DARKO PROJECT<br>
<br>
The project DARKO (<a href="https://es.sonicurlprotection-fra.com/click?PV=2&MSGID=202404080952400131150&URLID=3&ESV=10.0.28.7941&IV=FABB5E3C17DC2D2F8DC4A5553DABCB60&TT=1712569965717&ESN=fkPhUKW%2BqHj%2F5fVBVPIWx4MwbU%2FXzt%2FsKfYbaaD7vl0%3D&KV=1536961729280&B64_ENCODED_URL=aHR0cHM6Ly9kYXJrby1wcm9qZWN0LmV1&HK=EAF7459A3D9341E224878010FC8B6E00A58E34ADF586F662832D57F5ADA397CB"
class="moz-txt-link-freetext">https://darko-project.eu</a>), of
which the Research Centre “E. Piaggio” of the University of Pisa
is partner, sets out to realise a new generation of agile
production robots that have energy-efficient elastic actuators to
execute highly dynamic motions; are able to operate safely within
unknown, changing environments; are easy (cost-efficient) to
deploy; have predictive planning capabilities to decide for most
efficient actions while limiting associated risks; and are aware
of humans and their intentions to smoothly and intuitively
interact with them. DARKO will demonstrate, in relevant scenarios,
autonomous capabilities significantly beyond the current state of
the art in dynamic manipulation (e.g., throwing of goods, picking
and placing objects while in motion), perception, mapping, risk
management, motion planning and human-robot interaction. Beyond
its impact through improved capabilities in these areas, DARKO
will provide answers to the questions where and how dynamic
manipulation should be integrated as the most efficient solution
in intra logistics.<br>
<br>
THE UNIVERSITY OF PISA AND THE RESEARCH CENTRE “E. PIAGGIO”<br>
<br>
The University of Pisa (UNIPI), founded in 1343, is a public
institution among the oldest and most prestigious universities in
Europe. Moreover, it has twenty departments high level research
centres in the agriculture, astrophysics, computer science,
engineering, medicine and veterinary medicine sectors. Among them,
the Research Centre "Enrico Piaggio" <a
href="(http://www.centropiaggio.unipi.it"
class="moz-txt-link-freetext">(http://www.centropiaggio.unipi.it</a>),
since its foundation in September 1965, has paved the way for the
convergence of minds by bringing together scientists from
different fields of knowledge, ranging from engineering to
mathematics, medicine and psychology, towards applications in
Bioengineering and Robotics. The “Enrico Piaggio” Research Centre
has long-standing experience in managing contracts with
international, EU, and industrial partners. The Robotics group
focuses on robotics and embodied intelligence, and it is among the
originators of the modern approach to physical human-robot
interaction, with a particular attention to the study of compliant
actuators, hands and haptics, human tactual perception and the
relationship between perceptual illusions in the visual and
tactile domains.<br>
<br>
<br>
INFORMATION<br>
<br>
Interested applicants, possibly holding a Ph.D. degree, can
contact, for additional information on the research activities and
how to apply to this position, Prof. Paolo Salaris [<a
moz-do-not-send="true">paolo.salaris@unipi.it</a>], with the
subject: POSTDOC CANDIDATE (Safe and efficient dynamic
manipulation in cluttered environment), providing a cover letter
briefly describing the background and career plans as well as the
CV. <br>
</p>
<pre class="moz-signature" cols="72">--
Paolo Salaris, PhD
Associate Professor
*************************************
Department of Information Engineering
and Research Center "E.Piaggio",
School of Engineering - University of Pisa
Largo Lucio Lazzarino 1, 56122 Pisa, Italy
Email: <a class="moz-txt-link-abbreviated" href="mailto:paolo.salaris@unipi.it">paolo.salaris@unipi.it</a></pre>
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