Fully Funded PhD in Ubiquitous Cognitive Navigation with AI-Based Systems at Cranfield University
Fully funded PhD opportunity at
Cranfield University
in
Ubiquitous Cognitive Navigation with AI-Based Systems
.
This studentship sits at the intersection of
aerospace engineering
,
robotics
,
computer science
,
electrical engineering
,
sensor fusion
,
navigation
,
artificial intelligence
, and resilient
Position, Navigation and Timing (PNT)
systems. The project aims to develop AI-driven cognitive navigation methods for autonomous transport, especially in environments where GNSS signals are denied or degraded.
The research is jointly supervised by
Professor Ivan Petrunin
and
Dr Mengwei Sun
. It focuses on multi-sensor fusion, adaptive decision-making, and robust navigation architectures for future autonomous systems. Students will work with advanced simulation tools, software-defined radio, hardware-in-the-loop testing, and embedded platforms, and will also complete two industry placements at
Spirent Communications
.
Funding is provided by
EPSRC Doctoral Landscape Awards
,
Spirent Communications PLC
, and Cranfield University. The award offers a
tax-free bursary of up to £24,000 per year
plus
full tuition fees
for
3.5 years
. This opportunity is for
Home fee status
applicants only.
Eligibility highlights include a first or second class UK honours degree (or equivalent) in a related discipline, programming experience in
Python
and
MATLAB
, and interest or experience in autonomous systems, signal processing, robotics, or learning-based fusion methods.
Deadline:
30 September 2026.
Start date:
25 January 2027.
To apply, complete the online application form. For informal enquiries, contact
Dr Mengwei Sun
at
[email protected]
or
Professor Ivan Petrunin
at
[email protected]
.