Swarm Drone Developer

About the Role

This role is for a Swarm Drone Developer at the Indian Institute of Technology Bombay, Mumbai, under a Government-funded project focused on the development and demonstration of drone and allied technologies. The initiative aims to foster industry-academia collaborations and drive innovation.

Key Responsibilities

• Design and develop swarm algorithms and control systems for different classes of UAVs including Multi-rotor, Fixed-wing, and VTOL.
• Develop algorithms for swarm, path planning/guidance systems, control systems, navigation/sensor fusion, and implement them with different classes of UAVs.
• Test and validate developed algorithms in a SITL simulation environment that closely resembles actual flight scenarios.
• Design and develop control systems for various UAVs.
• Integrate and calibrate various sensors, such as IMUs, GPS, Barometer, LiDAR, Radars, Camera, and Optical flow sensors, with knowledge of communication protocols for hardware interfacing.
• Implement fail-safe logic and emergency handling techniques for error-free operation of drone swarms.
• Log and analyze telemetry and onboard sensor data for post-processing study of drone missions.
• Integrate developed algorithms into onboard companion computers (Jetson, STM32 processor-based boards).
• Collaborate with cross-functional teams to enhance UAV system capabilities.
• Maintain proper documentation of the design process, test results, and algorithm modifications, and provide technical reports.
• Perform any other assigned work as per requirement.

Requirements & Tech Stack

• Experience of developing algorithms for swarm, path planning/guidance systems, control systems, and navigation/sensor fusion, and implementing them with different classes of UAVs including Multi-rotor, Fixed-wing, and VTOL.
• Experience with various control laws and strategies, specifically PID, MPC, etc.
• Familiarity with autopilot firmware, like PX4 and ArduPilot.
• Sensor selection for specific UAV applications along with knowledge of the sensor fusion process for increased accuracy and reliability.
• Knowledge of drones/aerial robots regarding their control and stability aspects.
• Proficiency in programming languages, simulation, and modeling tools: Python, C/CPP, MATLAB/Simulink, ROS/ROS2, Gazebo.
• Software proficiency: Mission Planner, QGC, CubeIDE, CubeMX.
• Knowledge of multi-agent coordination, formation flying, and cooperative missions.
• Knowledge of path planning, collision avoidance, and distributed decision-making algorithms.
• Experience with multi-agent communication, communication protocols, and low-latency data exchange.

Qualifications

• PhD in a relevant field OR
• MTech / ME or equivalent with relevant experience OR
• BTech / BE or equivalent with relevant experience