Trust and Wellbeing in Transparent Human-Robot Interaction Teams
Primary supervisor
Contact admissions office
Other projects with the same supervisor
- Social Human-Robot interaction using visual object recognition and hand pose estimation
- Cognitive Robotics and Human Robot Interaction
- Explainable AI and Dialog for Trust in Human-Robot Interaction
Funding
- Directly Funded Project (European/UK Students Only)
This research project has funding attached. Funding for this project is available to citizens of a number of European countries (including the UK). In most cases this will include all EU nationals. However full funding may not be available to all applicants and you should read the full department and project details for further information.
Project description
This PhD project aims at the design of a novel AI cognitive architecture for transparent collaboration amongst a group of human participants and cobots. In particular. it focuses on designing an AI explanatory architecture to enhance trust, wellbeing and harmony in heterogenous collaborative teams. The cognitive architecture will be able to read the intention of the two agents and provide explanatory strategies and information for trustworthy interaction to enhance the harmony and social dynamics of the interaction and group performance.
The main novelty contribution, and impact potential, relies in the consideration of third-party users (e.g., observer/coworker of a human-cobot joint assembly task) and the role of AI explanatory strategies in supporting such triadic interaction and the quality and harmony of the interaction. The cognitive architecture will initially build on Vinanzi et al.???s (2019, 2020) computational modelling approach for intention reading, further integrating the latest machine learning methodologies for learning-based, dynamic cooperation.
This is a 3-year PhD studentship funded by Honda Research Institute Europe, with Dr Christian Goerick as industry co-supervisor and Professor Angelo Cangelosi as academic supervisor.
The funding includes a standard PhD bursary and the UK/EU fees for students starting by 1st April 2020.
For informal enquires, email angelo.cangelosi@manchester.ac.uk
Deadline for application is 15 December 2020.
Interviews will be in January 2020, subject to confirmation of contract.
Person specification
For information
- Candidates must hold a minimum of an upper Second Class UK Honours degree or international equivalent in a relevant science or engineering discipline.
- Candidates must meet the School's minimum English Language requirement.
- Candidates will be expected to comply with the University's policies and practices of equality, diversity and inclusion.
Essential
Applicants will be required to evidence the following skills and qualifications.
- You must be capable of performing at a very high level.
- You must have a self-driven interest in uncovering and solving unknown problems and be able to work hard and creatively without constant supervision.
Desirable
Applicants will be required to evidence the following skills and qualifications.
- You will have good time management.
- You will possess determination (which is often more important than qualifications) although you'll need a good amount of both.
General
Applicants will be required to address the following.
- Comment on your transcript/predicted degree marks, outlining both strong and weak points.
- Discuss your final year Undergraduate project work - and if appropriate your MSc project work.
- How well does your previous study prepare you for undertaking Postgraduate Research?
- Why do you believe you are suitable for doing Postgraduate Research?