The new space era has already begun, bringing increased demands for advanced technologies to ensure the resilience of space infrastructure while reducing dependence on Earth-based surveillance, processing, and control systems.

A critical enabler of this transformation is the next generation of spacecraft, or servicers, whose primary mission is to maintain the operational continuity and functionality of key Resident Space Objects. These objects support essential missions, including communications, extraterrestrial exploration, and beyond.

To succeed, spacecraft must operate in an increasingly congested and often contested environment, where highly capable independent perception systems would become key equipment of the satellites for achieving on-orbit Autonomy.

We will therefore use the existing expertise and research portfolio of sub-THz and Space group at the UoB ( https://www.birmingham.ac.uk/research/activity/eese/communications-sensing/misl/research/space-domain-awareness ) to demonstrate the feasibility of space-borne sub-THz joined radar sensing and communication system to deliver usable actionable input into AI-based classifier for on-orbit Situational Awareness (SA) of satellites and servicers using digital signals.

Challenges we will address include design of the communication waveforms and signals to highlight or dim the descriptive features of the objects being imaged, for enhanced recognition, integrated with robust communication to satisfy strict SWaP requirements of space-borne payloads.

The PhD studies will be of a theoretical and experimental nature with the emphasis on the communication and SAR imaging techniques. The experiments will be conducted with high-frequency waveform generators and oscilloscopes and tests will be performed in sub-THz facility of UoB and Microwave Integrated Systems Laboratory (MISL) mobile test laboratories to ascertain scattering and reflectivity characteristics of the spacecrafts and debris.

The perspective candidate will join acclaimed MISL and will work alongside PhD students, research stuff and academics in a vibrant and creative atmosphere.

As part of the package, the PhD students will receive necessary training, will be funded to attend conferences and workshops such as EMSIG Radar for Space.

Eligibility: only first-class Meng/MSc/MSci in active imaging technologies, engineering, signal processing, physics or other relevant disciplines are invited to apply as the scholarship is provided on a highly competitive basis. We expect you will be a very motivated candidate, able to master complex subjects and eager to undertake research in a system-level approach with both theoretical and experimental thrusts of activities, publish research journal papers and advance the research within a team of researchers working in the area.