A Robot that Swims Through Granular Materials

The Crover is the first small robotic device able to move within bulk grains. It is intended to use on-board sensors to scan cereal grains stored in silos and build a full map of conditions for early detection of infestations leading to grain spoilage. The robot (UK Patent No.2567898) works by using rotating parts to generate flow of the surrounding layer of granular particles that, unlike what would happen in non-granular systems, results in 'lift' forces that propel it through the 'fluidised' layer of granular medium (see video - https://vimeo.com/crover). The behaviour of the Crover strongly depends on local pressure and granular particle properties, so that efficient motion at depth and in different granular media types remains a challenge. Looking further ahead, the company wants to enable the robot to navigate different granular environments, such as sandy seabeds. Crover have therefore teamed up with John Royer and Aidan Brown at Edinburgh University to fully understand the fundamental physics of the Crover's interaction with the granular medium, and to take advantage of this to design the next generation of robots.

In this project you will focus on answering the question: What is the fundamental physics underlying the interaction of the Crover (or more generic propulsion mechanisms) with granular materials; how does this vary based on properties such as grain size or shape, the presence of moisture or of an interstitial fluid, e.g. in mud? This will involve systematically investigating the motion of the Crover or other test systems through small-scale lab 'silos' (a grain box in an environmentally controlled chamber), and gaining greater understanding through computer simulation and/or mathematical modelling. The project will involve an industrial placement at Crover Ltd. for 3-6 months, during which you will become fully immersed in the company. Through this project you will develop expertise in granular rheology and associated techniques, and will become part of the very active and multi-disciplinary Soft Matter and Biophysics research institute in Edinburgh Physics.

1. PEOPLE. The SOFI2 CDT will have varied economic and societal impacts, the greatest of which will be the students themselves. They will graduate with a broad and deep scientific education as well as an entrepreneurial mind-set combined with business awareness and communication skills. The training programme reflects the knowledge and skills identified by industry partners, the EPSRC, recent graduates and national strategies. Partners will facilitate impact through their engagement in the extensive training programme and through the co-supervision of PhD projects. Responsible Innovation is embedded throughout the training programme to instil an attitude towards research and innovation in which societal concerns and environmental impact are always to the fore. The team-working and leadership skills developed in SOFI2 (including an appreciation of the benefits that diversity brings to an organisation and how to foster an atmosphere of equality and inclusion) will enable our graduates to take on leadership roles in industry where they can, in turn, influence the thinking of their teams.

2. PROJECTS. The PhD research projects themselves are impact pathways. Approximately half the projects will be co-sponsored by external partners and will be aligned to scientific challenges faced by the partner. Even projects funded entirely by the EPSRC/Universities will have an industrial co-supervisor who can provide advice on development of impact. The impact workshops and Entrepreneur in Residence will additionally help students to develop impact from their research, while at the same time developing the mind-set that sees innovation in invention.

3. PUBLIC. The public benefits from innovation that comes from the research in the CDT. It also benefits from the training of a generation of researchers trained in RI who seek out the input of stakeholders in the development of products and processes. The public benefits from the outreach activities that enable them to understand better the science behind contemporary technological developments - and hence to make more informed decisions about how they lead their lives. The younger generations benefit from the excitement of science that might attract them to higher education and careers in STEM subjects.

4. PARTNERSHIPS. SOFI2 involves collaborative research with >25 external partners from large multinationals to small start-ups. In addition to the results of sponsored projects and the possibility of recruiting SOFI2 students, companies benefit from access to training resources, sharing of best practice in RI and EDI, access to the knowledge of the SOFI2 academics and sharing of expertise with other partners in the SOFI2 network. This networking is of particular benefit to SMEs and we have an SME strategy to facilitate engagement of SMEs with SOFI2. SME representation on the Management and Strategic Advisory Boards will support the SME strategy.

CPI/NFC is a key partner both for delivery of training and to connect SOFI2 research, students and staff to a wide network of companies in the formulated products sector.

The unusual partnership with the Leverhulme Research Centre on Forensic Science may lead to a stronger scientific underpinning of forensic evidence with positive impacts on the legal process and the pursuit of justice.

5. PRODUCTS. Partner companies identify areas of fundamental and applied science of interest to them with the knowledge that advances in these areas will help them to overcome technological challenges that will lead to better products or new markets. It is an expectation that scientific discoveries made within the CDT will drive new products, new markets and potentially new companies. SOFI2 CDT seeks also to develop innovative training materials, for example, in RI and in data analytics and AI (in collaboration with the Alan Turing Institute), from which other CDTs and training organisations can benefit.