INESC TEC is now accepting grant applications to award 1 Research Grant (BI) within the scope of the
Produtech_R3 funded by IAPMEI with reference 60 Co-financed by Component 5 - Capitalization and Business
Innovation, integrated in the Resilience Dimension of the Recovery and Resilience Plan within the scope of the
Recovery and Resilience Mechanism (MRR) of the European Union (EU), framed in the Next Generation EU, for
the period 2021 - 2026.
1. GRANT DESCRIPTION
Type of grant: Research Grant (BI)
General scientific area: ENGINEERING
Scientific subarea: Electrical engineering
Grant duration: 12 months, starting on 2023-11-01, with the possibility of being renewed until the end of the
project.
Scientific advisor: Pedro Gomes Costa
Workplace: INESC TEC, Porto, Portugal
Maintenance stipend: € 1199,64, according to the table of monthly maintenance stipend for FCT grants , paid via
bank transfer. Grant holders may be awarded potential supplements, according to a quarterly evaluation process
(Articles 19, 21 and 22 of the Regulations for Grants of INESC TEC and Annex II), up to a maximum limit of 50% of
the monthly maintenance stipend.
INESC TEC supports costs with registration, enrolment or tuition fees, during the grant duration, under the terms
established in the internal document: "Payment of Tuition fees to grant holders".
The grant holder will benefit from health insurance, supported by INESC TEC.
2. OBJECTIVES:
Research and development of a centralized fusion capable of managing hybrid fleets of robots with different
navigation strategies.
3. BRIEF PRESENTATION OF THE WORK PROGRAMME AND TRAINING:
Study and performance analysis of the ROS move_base free navigation module and respective plugins
Study and analysis of the different trajectory generation mechanisms used in the context of free navigation, both
based on models of the robot's environment and on information
perceived by its sensors (global planner/local planner).
Study and analysis of different controllers suitable for following free trajectories (trajectories defined by
sequences of points and parametric curves).
Development of trajectory tracking strategies that allow obstacles to be avoided, with this we aim for a solution
that seeks the best of both worlds, taking advantage of the
predictability of trajectory tracking and the flexibility of free navigation.
Development of free navigation algorithms.
Study and development of strategies for a centralized fusion capable of managing hybrid fleets of robots that use
different navigation strategies, i.e. trajectory tracking and
free navigation.
4. REQUIRED PROFILE:
Admission requirements:
Master's degree in Electrical and Computer Engineering, Computer Engineering, or similar areas.
The awarding of the fellowship is dependent on the applicants' enrolment in study cycle or non-award courses of
Higher Education Institutions.
Preference factors:
Experience working with mobile robots is valued.
Participation in extra-curricular activities linked to robotics is valued.
Minimum requirements:
Experience in C/C++ programming
Experience in the ROS framework.
The candidate must be enrolled in a PhD course in Electrical and Computer Engineering or similar areas
5. EVALUATION OF APPLICATIONS AND SELECTION PROCESS:
Selection criteria and corresponding valuation: the first phase comprises the Academic Evaluation (AC), based
on the criteria referred to in Article 12 of the Regulations for Grants of INESC TEC, while the second phase
comprehends the Individual Interview (EI). All factors are evaluated on a scale of 0 to 100, taking into account the
applicants' merit, suitability and conformity with the preference factors.
The weight of the AC factors are as follows: Academic Qualifications (FA, 45%), Scientific Publications (PC, 5%),
Experience (EX, 45%) and Motivation Letter (CM, 5%).
Candidates who score less than 50 points in the AC average will be considered excluded on absolute merit. The top
five candidates approved on absolute merit will be qualified for the individual interview. The Final Grade (CF) is
obtained by the weighted average of AC (80%) and EI (20%).
The Selection Jury is composed of the following members:
President of the Jury: Pedro Gomes Costa
Full member: Manuel Santos Silva
Full member: Héber Miguel Sobreira
Substitute member:
Release of results and prior hearing: the results of the selection process, as well as the terms and procedures for
prior hearing, will be released to the applicants by email, under the terms referred to in Article 13 of the Regulations
for Studentships and Fellowships of INESC TEC.
6. FORMALISATION OF APPLICATIONS:
Application Documents:
1. Motivation letter;
2. Curriculum Vitae (must include the list of previous fellowships, their type, beginning and end dates, funding
entities and host institutions);
3. Certificate or diploma degree dully recognised in Portugal;
● Documents proving the awarding of academic degrees and diplomas, or the according recognition - in cases of academic degrees or diplomas granted by a foreign higher education institution - can be dismissed in the application process, and replaced by the applicant's declaration of honour, with the verification of said condition taking place during the grant's hiring stage. The submission of the certificate is mandatory when signing the contract.
● Academic degrees or diplomas awarded by a foreign higher education institution require an authentication by a Portuguese higher education institution, and the corresponding registration on the DGES platform, in conformity with Decree-Law no. 66/2018, of August 16, and Ordinance no. 33/2019, of January 25. More information available on the website
https://www.dges.gov.pt/pt/pagina/reconhecimento?plid=3744. Proof of enrollment in a degree awarding study cycle or in a non degree awarding Higher Education program.
● The proof of enrollment may be presented just during the grant hiring stage.
5. Signed declaration stating the infringement of the grant holder's duties (article 14, no. 4)
6. Documental evidence to support the country of residence, residence permit or other legally equivalent
document, in cases where the applicant is a foreigner or non-resident in Portugal - valid until the beginning of the grant.
7. Other supporting documents relevant to the final assessment.
Failure to deliver the required documents within the 90-day period after the date of the notice of the conditional
awarding of the grant implies its cancellation.
Application period: From 2023-09-28 to 2023-10-11
Submission of applications: the application will be formalised by submitting the form available in the Work With
Us section of INESC TEC website.
7. BINDING LEGISLATION AND REGULATION
The hiring process shall comply with the current legislation regarding the Research Grant Holder Statute, approved
by Law no. 40/2004 of August 18, in its current wording, as well as by the Regulations for Grants of INESC TEC
and for FCT Grants Regulation in force.
For more information, please check the Regulations for Grants of INESC TEC and relevant annexes at
www.inesctec.pt/bolsas
