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Master Thesis: Bilevel-Optimization on Motion Simulators
Job Description
Req ID:  3366
Place of work:  Oberpfaffenhofen
Starting date:  immediately
Career level:  Student research project and final thesis
Type of employment:  Part time
Duration of contract:  6 months

Remuneration: Remuneration is in accordance with the Collective Agreement for the Public Sector - Federal Government (TVöD-Bund)

Enter the fascinating world of the German Aerospace Center (Deutsches Zentrum für Luft- und Raumfahrt e. V.; DLR) and help shape the future through research and innovation! We offer an exciting and inspiring working environment driven by the expertise and curiosity of our 11,000 employees from 100 nations and our unique infrastructure. Together, we develop sustainable technologies and thus contribute to finding solutions to global challenges. Would you like to join us in addressing this major future challenge? Then this is your place!

Welcome to the Institute of Flight Systems. Our work focuses on the interaction between aircraft configuration, pilots and modern flight system technology. From flight dynamics to unmanned aerial vehicles, from simulation to real flight tests - we analyse, test and develop innovations that will shape the flying of the future. The Flight Control and Simulation department combines skills in system dynamics and control engineering to develop advanced flight control methods and realistic flight simulators.

What to expect

In the Department for Flight Control and Simulation, one of the main activities is the development of full-motion simulators and their control algorithms. The algorithms consist of two parts. The first leads to the actual movement of the platform by providing joint angles or a Cartesian pose, which is then processed by the platform's controller. The second part, the motion cueing algorithm, transfers the motion from a simulation (e.g. flight simulation or driving simulation) to the workspace of the motion platform.
In this thesis you will develop a practical motion cueing algorithm based on Model Predictive Control (MPC) for a novel motion simulator. A key focus is the design of an input/trajectory parametrization using implicitly constrained B-splines, formulated as a bilevel optimization problem.

 

Your tasks

  • Familiarize with the current setup of the 8 DOF motion platform, which includes the mechanical, system dynamics and control aspects
  • Setup of an MPC motion cueing algorithm in CasADi
  • Literature research on methods to solve bilevel optimization problems
  • Implement implicit constrained B-Splines for the MPC algorithm
  • Comparison of implemented methods in terms of quality and performance

 

Your profile

  • Bachelors degree in mathematics, mechatronics, informatics or a comparable study programme
  • Good programming skills in Python
  • Knowledge in system dynamics
  • Being able to work responsibly and independently

We offer

DLR stands for diversity, appreciation and equality for all people. We promote independent work and the individual development of our employees both personally and professionally. To this end, we offer numerous training and development opportunities. Equal opportunities are of particular importance to us, which is why we want to increase the proportion of women in science and management in particular. Applicants with severe disabilities will be given preference if they are qualified.

We look forward to getting to know you!

If you have any questions about this position (Vacancy-ID 3366) please contact:

Thomas Bernhofer

Tel.: +49 8153 28 1046 
Apply now