High-speed manipulation using compliant and flexible robots

High-Speed Manipulation Using Compliant and Flexible Robots


Réf ABG-135608

Sujet de Thèse

11/02/2026

Financement public/privé

CNRS / LIRMM

Lieu de travail

Montpellier - Occitanie - France

Intitulé du sujet

High-Speed Manipulation Using Compliant and Flexible Robots

Champs scientifiques

* Robotique


Description du sujet


INRIA and LIRMM (France) invite applications for a fully funded PhD position on high-speed manipulation using compliant and flexible robots. The detailed call is available at:

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Context

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Working with deformable and soft materials is expected to become a highly valuable skill for robotics researchers and engineers in the coming years. The advantages of non-rigid robots, such as compliance and inherent safe interaction, are still largely under-exploited. In particular, high-speed manipulation represents an area that has seen virtually no exploration in this domain. This creates an exciting and promising avenue for innovative research.

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Goals

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* Development of computationally efficient dynamic models suitable for control.
* Formulation and implementation of optimal control algorithms.
* Experimental validation in a waste sorting scenario.
* Optional involvement in mechanical and mechatronic design decisions affecting dynamic performance.

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Qualifications and Skills

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The required qualifications are:

* MSc degree in robotics or closely related field.
* Solid background in state-space modeling and control theory.
* Strong programming skills in C++, Python and/or MATLAB.
* Taste for both theoretical development and experimental validation.
* Proficiency in written and spoken English.

Strong assets include experience in:

* Optimal control and/or Model Predictive Control.
* Modeling of deformable parts.
* Real-time numerical optimization.

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Practical Information

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The PhD candidate will benefit from a rich scientific environment offered through the collaboration between INRIA (Lille) and LIRMM (Montpellier), two French research groups with worldwide recognition in compliant robotics and high-speed manipulation. The thesis will be co-supervised by researchers from both institutes, with the candidate spending substantial time at each site to leverage their complementary experimental platforms and expertise.

Location - Lille and Montpellier, France.

Timeline - The starting date is flexible and will be arranged with the selected candidate. The position will remain open until a suitable candidate is selected.


Nature du financement


Financement public/privé


Précisions sur le financement



Présentation établissement et labo d'accueil


CNRS / LIRMM

The PhD candidate will benefit from a rich scientific environment offered through the collaboration between INRIA (Lille) and LIRMM (Montpellier), two French research groups with worldwide recognition in compliant robotics and high-speed manipulation. The thesis will be co-supervised by researchers from both institutes, with the candidate spending substantial time at each site to leverage their complementary experimental platforms and expertise.


Site web :



Profil du candidat


The required qualifications are:

* MSc degree in robotics or closely related field.
* Solid background in state-space modeling and control theory.
* Strong programming skills in C++, Python and/or MATLAB.
* Taste for both theoretical development and experimental validation.
* Proficiency in written and spoken English.

Strong assets include experience in:

* Optimal control and/or Model Predictive Control.
* Modeling of deformable parts.
* Real-time numerical optimization.