PhD Study : Non-contact detection and monitoring for Ambient Assisted Living

Summary

Ambient assisted living (AAL) can be defined as “the use of information and communication technologies (ICT) in a person’s daily living and working environment to enable them to stay active longer, remain socially connected and live independently into old age”. In 2017, there are an estimated 962 million people aged 60 or over in the world as per the United Nation (UN) data. Particularly in the UK, it is expected that one in 7 people will be aged over 75 by 2040. The better understanding of their daily activities and vital signs can provide a knowledge base to assist them in the situation of an emergency (e.g. fall detection) and monitor their health (e.g. respiration rate and heart rate) under the AAL framework. In addition, such knowledge base will play an important role in the connected healthcare for both patients and health professionals.

The successful applicant will be expected to investigate the daily life activities and vital signs using radar (non-contact) based systems. This will be an experimental based work where data will be collected in real environments (e.g. a living room) and process using appropriate artificial intelligence (AI) techniques.

Following is the breakdown of this Ph.D.:

1.Calibration of the cm-wave and mm-wave radar systems The radar systems (cm and mm) will be tested to quantify their performances (e.g. sensitivity and dynamic range).

2.Data collection and processing Data will be collected with both radar systems in different environments (e.g. living room) for different human activities. Unique features relating activities will be extracted from the data and further used to detect any activity.

The candidate will ideally have good knowledge of radar systems, signal processing, programming (e.g. C/C++ and MATLAB) and AI.

Essential criteria

Applicants should hold, or expect to obtain, a First or Upper Second Class Honours Degree in a subject relevant to the proposed area of study.

We may also consider applications from those who hold equivalent qualifications, for example, a Lower Second Class Honours Degree plus a Master’s Degree with Distinction.

In exceptional circumstances, the University may consider a portfolio of evidence from applicants who have appropriate professional experience which is equivalent to the learning outcomes of an Honours degree in lieu of academic qualifications.

Funding and eligibility

The University offers the following levels of support:

Vice Chancellors Research Studentship (VCRS)

The following scholarship options are available to applicants worldwide:

• Full Award: (full-time tuition fees + £19,000 (tbc))
• Part Award: (full-time tuition fees + £9,500)
• Fees Only Award: (full-time tuition fees)

These scholarships will cover full-time PhD tuition fees for three years (subject to satisfactory academic performance) and will provide a £900 per annum research training support grant (RTSG) to help support the PhD researcher.

Applicants who already hold a doctoral degree or who have been registered on a programme of research leading to the award of a doctoral degree on a full-time basis for more than one year (or part-time equivalent) are NOT eligible to apply for an award.

Please note: you will automatically be entered into the competition for the Full Award, unless you state otherwise in your application.

Department for the Economy (DFE)

The scholarship will cover tuition fees at the Home rate and a maintenance allowance of £19,000 (tbc) per annum for three years (subject to satisfactory academic performance).

This scholarship also comes with £900 per annum for three years as a research training support grant (RTSG) allocation to help support the PhD researcher.

• Candidates with pre-settled or settled status under the EU Settlement Scheme, who also satisfy a three year residency requirement in the UK prior to the start of the course for which a Studentship is held MAY receive a Studentship covering fees and maintenance.
• Republic of Ireland (ROI) nationals who satisfy three years’ residency in the UK prior to the start of the course MAY receive a Studentship covering fees and maintenance (ROI nationals don’t need to have pre-settled or settled status under the EU Settlement Scheme to qualify).
• Other non-ROI EU applicants are ‘International’ are not eligible for this source of funding.
• Applicants who already hold a doctoral degree or who have been registered on a programme of research leading to the award of a doctoral degree on a full-time basis for more than one year (or part-time equivalent) are NOT eligible to apply for an award.

Due consideration should be given to financing your studies. Further information on cost of living