PhD student position in Vehicle dynamics

Information about the research/the project/the division
The division of Vehicle Engineering and Autonomous Systems are now seeking a dedicated and creative PhD student to work on research related to vehicle dynamics. In this case the work emphasizes the real use of vehicles and how it affects their longitudinal actuation (propulsion and brake systems), especially with concern of fuel consumption. 

The division of Vehicle Engineering and Autonomous Systems focuses on engineering of systems in the applications of vehicles and robots. Our strengths are the knowledge of finding solutions to authentic problems, the combination of simulations with real-life testing and stochastic optimization methods and their applications.

More information about the department will be found here http://www.chalmers.se/am

The project will run in collaboration with SP, Volvo Group Trucks Technology and Volvo Car Corporation. When statistics for commercial transport missions today are scrutinized, we can conclude that the fuel consumption, for a given route and cargo weight, can vary by as much as 50% depending on vehicle specification and driver behavior. This large variation indicates unnecessary high total consumption. If vehicles can be better specified and configured in the design and but also the sales-to-order processes and their utilization can be optimized a reduction of the fuel consumption up to 25% can be achieved in future vehicle generations.

The purpose of this project is to provide a tool to make the next generation of vehicles more energy efficient by helping to design and configure vehicles for their actual use. This requires understanding of how the vehicles are used as well as understanding of the procedure of how vehicles are designed for assumed transport missions.

The project will develop a way to describe vehicles use by introducing a novel description – Operating Cycles – that includes e.g. statistical variations. These will replace deterministic driving cycles like NEDC that not gives accurate information on expect fuel consumption for cars. The Operating Cycles will be based on analysis of large amounts of data that partly exist but also collected in the project.

The benefits of the project are:  



• Future vehicle fleet will be more energy effective and more environmental friendly.  

• Swedish vehicle industry will increase its competitiveness.

Major responsibilities


- Carrying on research activities
- Attending secondments and meetings 
- Being awareded at least 67.5 education credits (typically from PhD and Master courses)
- Teaching (or equivalent) 20%

Your major responsibilities as PhD student is to pursue your own doctoral studies. You are expected to develop your own scientific concepts and communicate the results of your research verbally and in writing. The position can also include teaching on Chalmers' undergraduate level or performing other duties corresponding up to 20 per cent of working hours.

Position summary

Full-time temporary employment. The position is limited to a maximum of five years.

The results of the research are expected to be published in scientific journals and presented at scientific conferences. The PhD student will mainly work at Chalmers Johanneberg campus, but some time will be spent in industry, where a desk will also be available.

As a PhD student you are involved in the teaching activities as well as conducting your own research under supervision of senior division members. The teaching, typically one fifth of your time, involves class room lecturing, lab supervision and exam marking.

The research is conducted in within a project and is intended to lead to a Licentiate degree after two and a half year and a PhD degree after five. In the degree syllabus is also a set of required courses that the PhD student needs to participate (45/67.5 ECTS).

Qualifications




• Master of Science in Vehicle Dynamics or Automotive Engineering

• Experience in modelling and simulation of dynamic systems, e.g. tools like Matlab/Simulink

• Be able to communicate your scientific results, both orally and in writing, in English

• Experience from automotive industry and/or automotive measurements and testing is beneficial.

Knowledge of the Swedish language is desirable but not a requirement. However, all PhD Students are expected to be able to teach in Swedish as well as in English after two years of employment. Those who do not have Swedish as their mother tongue are offered courses in the Swedish language. 

Application deadline: The position is open until filled. The review of applications is done continuously.

For questions, please contact:
Professor Bengt Jacobson
Vehicle Dynamics
E-mail: bengt.jacobson@chalmers.se
Phone: +46 31 772 13 83

PhD Sixten Berglund
Vehicle Dynamics
E-mail: sixten.berglund@chalmers.se
Phone: +46 31 32 22 377




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