PhD Position in Ultra-dense Sustainable Networks for Wireless Battery Management Catholic University of Leuven Department of Electrical Engineering

The research group WAVECORE in the Department of Electrical Engineering (ESAT) of KU Leuven focuses on wireless communication fundamentals and systems. Within WAVECORE, the Networked Systems research unit covers research on several fields of wireless networking such as Cell-Free Massive MIMO, Non-terrestrial Networks, Internet of Things, Joint Communication and Sensing, Machine Learning-based Signal Processing as well as Simultaneous Wireless Information and Power Transfer. Project In order to reduce greenhouse gases and air pollutants, we rely more and more on batteries not only to store energy from renewable sources, but also to realize cleaner solutions for the environment, as in the case of electric vehicles. To provide sufficient power and maximize drive duration of an electric vehicle, tens or hundreds of battery cells are jointly used. Wireless battery management systems are essential to provide a scalable solution and ensure the reliable operation of these battery cells. Each cell should be equipped with a wireless sensor that allows it to monitor its temperature, voltage, and other essential parameters. To enable such ultra-dense battery management networks, a radical new scalable design of wireless sensor networks is necessary. In this project, we aim to make wireless communications more sustainable and scalable. We will design, from hardware to protocol stack, a lightweight communication solution that allows reliable monitoring with a small electronics footprint. To this end, we will start from known short-range internet of things (IoT) communications such as Bluetooth low energy (BLE). We will then explore how to gradually rely on less hardware, by moving processing and analog functions to over-the-air methods. This means that the operation is executed in the air, and there is no need to have a hardware device in each of the ultra-dense battery cells. By doing so, we will be able to reduce the footprint of wireless devices by using less hardware, which also contributes to making wireless devices more energy efficient. In the first phase, we will explore replacing components in the communication chain, such as the oscillator, with an over-the-air (OTA) process. The second phase will investigate implementing selected operations in the communication chain, such as summation and multiplication in OTA. This project consists of both analytical and experimental work, where the proposed wireless battery management system and OTA algorithms will be carefully modeled, characterized, and implemented in our state-of-the-art lab. The Networked Systems lab facilities have a fully operative, smart, and reconfigurable IoT testbed, consisting of 38 low-power nodes using Bluetooth Low Energy Mesh (BLE Mesh) as well as a 64-antenna Massive MIMO testbed. Profile We are looking for highly motivated top-of-the-class enthusiastic Ph.D. candidate who shows a dynamic and proactive attitude towards research and industry and has interest in both hardware and software. The candidate should have excellent skills in wireless and sensor technology and has an affinity or willingness to learn to work in a world-class wireless lab. The candidate: should have a master’s degree in Electrical Engineering, Telecommunication Engineering, or a related degree should be ranked within the top 10% of their class in MSc and BSc, and have exceptional grades should have a solid background in wireless communication, embedded systems and networking should have has strong communication skills and is fluent in English should have strong interpersonal skills and the ability to work in an international team should have a critical mindset and can analyze research results in a comprehensive way being a first author or co-author in internationally peer-reviewed publications is a plus Offer We offer a PhD scholarship up to four years (subject to positive intermediate evaluations). If the applicant is non-EER, also up to 1 year pre-doc will be supported An exciting research environment, working on the intersection between theory and implementation, in a very multi-disciplinary research environment You will be working on a state-of-the-art topic with state-of-the-art laboratories A PhD title from a highly ranked university (#1 in Europe in terms of scientific innovation) after approximately 4 years of successful research A thorough scientific education, the possibility to become a world-class researcher A KU Leuven affiliation, one of the largest research universities of Europe The possibility to participate in international conferences and collaborations Interested? To apply please submit the following in the online portal: - A CV with BSc and MSc average grade. Please also mention 3 references - One-page max. motivation letter - Complete transcripts of Bachelor and Master Degree (if the MSc degree is not finished yet, please send the most recent transcript) - (if available) IELTS, TOEFL or similar test proving your proficiency in English. For more information please contact Dr. Hazem Sallouha, tel.: +32 16 37 62 43, email: hazem.sallouha@kuleuven.be. You can apply for this job no later than November 30, 2022 via the KU Leuven seeks to foster an environment where all talents can flourish, regardless of gender, age, cultural background, nationality or impairments. If you have any questions relating to accessibility or support, please contact us at diversiteit.HR@kuleuven.be. Employment percentage: Voltijds Location: Leuven Apply before: November 30, 2022 Tags: Elektrotechniek Download: file If you apply for this position please say you saw it on Computeroxy Apply

The research group WAVECORE in the Department of Electrical Engineering (ESAT) of KU Leuven focuses on wireless communication fundamentals and systems. Within WAVECORE, the Networked Systems research unit covers research on several fields of wireless networking such as Cell-Free Massive MIMO, Non-terrestrial Networks, Internet of Things, Joint Communication and Sensing, Machine Learning-based Signal Processing as well as Simultaneous Wireless Information and Power Transfer.

Project

In order to reduce greenhouse gases and air pollutants, we rely more and more on batteries not only to store energy from renewable sources, but also to realize cleaner solutions for the environment, as in the case of electric vehicles. To provide sufficient power and maximize drive duration of an electric vehicle, tens or hundreds of battery cells are jointly used. Wireless battery management systems are essential to provide a scalable solution and ensure the reliable operation of these battery cells. Each cell should be equipped with a wireless sensor that allows it to monitor its temperature, voltage, and other essential parameters. To enable such ultra-dense battery management networks, a radical new scalable design of wireless sensor networks is necessary.

In this project, we aim to make wireless communications more sustainable and scalable. We will design, from hardware to protocol stack, a lightweight communication solution that allows reliable monitoring with a small electronics footprint. To this end, we will start from known short-range internet of things (IoT) communications such as Bluetooth low energy (BLE). We will then explore how to gradually rely on less hardware, by moving processing and analog functions to over-the-air methods. This means that the operation is executed in the air, and there is no need to have a hardware device in each of the ultra-dense battery cells. By doing so, we will be able to reduce the footprint of wireless devices by using less hardware, which also contributes to making wireless devices more energy efficient. In the first phase, we will explore replacing components in the communication chain, such as the oscillator, with an over-the-air (OTA) process. The second phase will investigate implementing selected operations in the communication chain, such as summation and multiplication in OTA.

This project consists of both analytical and experimental work, where the proposed wireless battery management system and OTA algorithms will be carefully modeled, characterized, and implemented in our state-of-the-art lab. The Networked Systems lab facilities have a fully operative, smart, and reconfigurable IoT testbed, consisting of 38 low-power nodes using Bluetooth Low Energy Mesh (BLE Mesh) as well as a 64-antenna Massive MIMO testbed.

Profile

We are looking for highly motivated top-of-the-class enthusiastic Ph.D. candidate who shows a dynamic and proactive attitude towards research and industry and has interest in both hardware and software. The candidate should have excellent skills in wireless and sensor technology and has an affinity or willingness to learn to work in a world-class wireless lab.

The candidate:

should have a master’s degree in Electrical Engineering, Telecommunication Engineering, or a related degree
should be ranked within the top 10% of their class in MSc and BSc, and have exceptional grades
should have a solid background in wireless communication, embedded systems and networking
should have has strong communication skills and is fluent in English
should have strong interpersonal skills and the ability to work in an international team
should have a critical mindset and can analyze research results in a comprehensive way
being a first author or co-author in internationally peer-reviewed publications is a plus

Offer

We offer a PhD scholarship up to four years (subject to positive intermediate evaluations). If the applicant is non-EER, also up to 1 year pre-doc will be supported
An exciting research environment, working on the intersection between theory and implementation, in a very multi-disciplinary research environment
You will be working on a state-of-the-art topic with state-of-the-art laboratories
A PhD title from a highly ranked university (#1 in Europe in terms of scientific innovation) after approximately 4 years of successful research
A thorough scientific education, the possibility to become a world-class researcher
A KU Leuven affiliation, one of the largest research universities of Europe

The possibility to participate in international conferences and collaborations

Interested?

To apply please submit the following in the online portal:

- A CV with BSc and MSc average grade. Please also mention 3 references

- One-page max. motivation letter

- Complete transcripts of Bachelor and Master Degree (if the MSc degree is not finished yet, please send the most recent transcript)

- (if available) IELTS, TOEFL or similar test proving your proficiency in English.

For more information please contact Dr. Hazem Sallouha, tel.: +32 16 37 62 43, email: hazem.sallouha@kuleuven.be.

You can apply for this job no later than November 30, 2022 via the

KU Leuven seeks to foster an environment where all talents can flourish, regardless of gender, age, cultural background, nationality or impairments. If you have any questions relating to accessibility or support, please contact us at diversiteit.HR@kuleuven.be.

Employment percentage: Voltijds
Location: Leuven
Apply before: November 30, 2022
Tags: Elektrotechniek
Download: file

If you apply for this position please say you saw it on Computeroxy

Apply