Research Fellow in Aerodynamics and Aeroacoustics of Closely Coupled Rotors

Research Fellow in Closely Coupled Rotors

You will work on the development of small uncrewed aircraft in the area of closely-coupled rotor research. This is part of the £1.2M Closely-Coupled Rotors EPSRC-funded research project in collaboration with colleagues in Aeronautics, Aeroacoustics and ISVR.

https://www.southampton.ac.uk/research/projects/aerodynamics-aeroacoustics-of-closely-coupled-rotors

The project will develop new methods and tools to design a new generation of urban unmanned aircraft. The project is specifically developed around a long-standing industrial challenge: reducing noise disruption caused by small multi-rotor uncrewed aircraft. The focus of the work at Southampton will consist of developing VTOL aerial platforms which can safely, reliably and quietly fly into urban cities to undertake servicing and delivery tasks. To enable this, new thinking is required in propulsion technology, particularly around the design of the propeller.

The project will contribute to:

• Improved aerial operations in the urban environment.
• Reduce noise disruption caused by urban servicing and delivery operations.
• New thinking on flight within congested and cluttered environments.
• Lobbying the regulation bodies, such as the CAA and EASA for relaxation of rules and permissions to operate in urban areas.

It is essential that you have a PhD or equivalent professional qualifications and experience in Unmanned Systems and have an excellent research track record. Further experience of designing, building and operating small multi-rotor aircraft would be advantageous.

Applications for Research Fellow positions will be considered from candidates who are working towards or nearing completion of a relevant PhD qualification. The title of Research Fellow will be applied upon successful completion of the PhD. Prior to the qualification being awarded the title of Senior Research Assistant will be given.

The University of Southampton is in the top one per cent of world universities and one of the UK’s top 15 research-intensive universities. We have an international reputation for research, teaching and enterprise activities. The successful candidate will join one of the UK’s most dynamic centres for engineering research and education, rated highly in the UK for research power in REF 2021.

Recent Publications from the group:

Analytical investigation of propeller-wing interaction noise
Deepak Akiwate, Anthony Parry, Phillip Joseph, & Chaitanya C. Paruchuri , 2022
DOI: 10.2514/6.2022-2877
Type: Conference

On the effect of inflow distortions of propeller noise
Federico Petricelli, Sergi Palleja Cabre, Chaitanya Paruchuri, Phillip Joseph, Amin Karimian, Stefano Meloni, & Roberto Camussi, 2022
DOI: 10.2514/6.2022-2938
Type: Conference

Investigation into the mechanisms of propeller-wing interaction noise
Chaitanya Paruchuri, Deepak Akiwate, Sergi Palleja Cabre, Amin Karimian, Phillip Joseph, & Anthony B. Parry, 2022
DOI: 10.2514/6.2022-2936
Type: Conference

Closing Date: 11 Nov 2024

Section: Education, Research & Enterprise

Salary: £35,880 to £43,878 per annum
Full Time Fixed Term for 22 months