Robotic and Uncrewed Systems for the Operations and Maintenance of Offshore Wind Farms

埃克塞特大学的博士学位是由EDF能源公司赞助的，该公司处于推动低碳发电的最前沿。该博士学位旨在通过将多个自主系统集成到现有风力发电场的操作中，并为未来海上风力发电场的需求进行规划，从而解决海上风力发电场对更高水平自动化的需求。该博士候选人将开发用于海上风力发电场使用和协调自主水面船只、无人水下船只和无人空中无人机的工具。与运营团队密切合作，研究将包括在活跃的风力发电场进行现场测试，包括Blyth海上风力演示站点。作为该博士学位的一部分，开发的工具、策略和概念验证海上试验不仅将帮助风电场运营商（如工业赞助商），还将帮助指导自主系统制造商的工作，以确保他们的系统能够应对该行业以及标准和认证机构面临的挑战。目的是确定、开发和验证创新的解决方案，以降低现有和未来海上风电资产的成本和风险。该项目适合那些具有良好的工程知识和强大的计算和数学背景的人，他们非常积极地参与自主和远程系统的应用和开发。拥有以下一门或多门工程专业的学位优先：机械、航空、电气、土木、计算机或船舶/船舶。然而，海洋科学、数学、计算机或物理科学专业的候选人也将被考虑。该项目将利用海上技术中心的设施，包括高性能计算、海上测试设施、海上测量技术和研究船。此外，Blyth海上风电场的现场试验预计将与工业赞助商EDF能源公司合作。因此，该项目将包括现场工作，包括远程/自主系统的测试。

This PhD at the University of Exeter is sponsored by EDF Energy which is at the forefront of the drive towards low carbon electricity generation. This PhD seeks to address the offshore wind industry's need of greater levels of automation by applying novel methods of integrating multiple autonomous systems to the operation of existing wind farms and planning for the needs of future offshore wind farms A PhD candidate is sought to develop tools to use and coordinate autonomous surface vessels, unmanned subsea vessels, and unmanned aerial drones for offshore wind farms. Working closely with operational teams, the research will include field testing at active wind farms, including the Blyth Offshore Wind Demonstrator site. The tools, strategies, and proof of concept sea trials developed as part of this PhD will aid not only wind farm operators, such as the industrial sponsor, but will help guide the work of manufacturers of autonomous systems to ensure that their systems can address the challenges faced in this industry as well as standard and certification bodies.The aim is to identify, develop and validate innovative solutions to reduce costs and risks to existing and future offshore wind assets. The project would suit someone who is highly motivated to be involved in the application and development of autonomous and remote systems backed up by sound engineering knowledge and a strong background in computing and mathematics. A degree in one or more of the following engineering disciplines would be advantageous: mechanical, aeronautical, electrical, civil, computer or navel/offshore. However, candidates across the marine sciences, maths, computing or physical sciences will also be considered.The project will take advantage of facilities within the Centre for Offshore Technology, including high-performance computing, offshore test facilities, offshore measurement technology, and research vessel. Furthermore, field trials at Blyth offshore wind farm are anticipated in partnership with the industrial sponsor EDF Energy. As such, the project will include fieldwork including testing of remote/autonomous systems.