Autonomous Robotic Management of York Institute for Safe Autonomy Solar Farm

About the Project

With the commissioning of a new solar power farm for research at York's institute for Safe Autonomy, we are looking for enthusiastic students with an interest in creating robots that can move between solar panel arrays to autonomously perform cleaning, inspection, mapping, and site maintenance tasks. Our aerial multicopter drones and Clearpath Robotics Warthog and Husky mobile robots are available to serve as platforms for new systems that could safely and inexpensively tend to solar farms of the future. There are several areas of focus could be part of in this project and include but are not limited to:

1. 1) Digital mapping
   Using real-time-kinematics on small robots & drones to map distances, heights, widths, and altitudes (terrain) on ISA solar farm to digital model. SLAMs will be required.
   3D Digital model will be done using photogrammetry and in blender. The model will then be exported to ROS/GAZEBO virtual environments.
2. 2) Perimeter integrity checks
   This is one of the applications of robots on solar farms and other industrial sites. The robot moves round in a pre-defined path, particularly round the perimeter of the site to detect any breach. When coupled with computer vision it provides continuous asset checks, like a human security personnel.
3. 3) Path planning for site maintenance
   This is like (2) but is aimed at robots moving through the rows and columns for maintenance purpose. Aim is to use the 3D model in gazebo to prepare both pre-planned and spontaneous paths for robots used to carry payloads (such as cameras) for site maintenance.
4. 4) Robot training for thermographic inspection and small animals’/moving objects detection
   These are two different projects listed under same heading. The current location has small animals like rabbits and birds always moving around. This may hamper robot operations as they are moving objects. Training an on-board system for identification can assist with this challenge. Also, on-board processors will be trained to make the robots useful for thermographic inspections. There are several aspects to this as the system is expected to be autonomous and safe.
5. 5) Robot – drone communication/cordination
   This is to establish stable and efficient communications and coordination between our robots and drones. We intend to use ROS and any other sensor that may be required. The project will ensure information gathered from drones are interpreted by the robot and the robot can navigate or act as required.
6. 6) Single panel cleaning robot
   This is probably a long- term project that can be implemented in stages. We can have small robots that can clean individual panels at any point on the array. A bigger robot like the husky/warthog will be available to move the robots around, set them in the desired area and collected them after scheduled cleaning.

Due to the variety of work needed, this project is suitable for both MSc by Research and PhD level study. For more details please contact Dr. Mark Post or Dr. Olufemi Olayiwola.

How to Apply:

Applicants should apply via the University’s online application system at https://www.york.ac.uk/study/postgraduate-research/apply/. Please read the application guidance first so that you understand the various steps in the application process.

Funding Notes

This is a self-funded project and you will need to have sufficient funds in place (eg from scholarships, personal funds and/or other sources) to cover the tuition fees and living expenses for the duration of the research degree programme. Please check the School of Physics, Engineering and Technology website View Website for details about funding opportunities at York.