The Faculty of Technology at Bielefeld University, Germany, and the Fraunhofer Institute of Optronics, System Technologies and Image Exploitation (IOSB) invite applications for a

Full Professorship (W3) in Cooperative
Robotics with a focus on Automation in
Production

in combination with the position of

Head of the department for Cognitive
Automation Technology at Fraunhofer IOSB,
subdivision IOSB-INA at Lemgo

IOSB-INA offers innovative hardware and software solutions in the areas of industrial internet, intelligent automation and usability of technical systems. Networking, analysis and monitoring as well as the user-friendly design of technical systems in connection with practical knowledge in automation are its core competences. The successful candidate is an internationally visible expert in robotics with exceptional qualifications in research and teaching. Substantial research experiences proving the ability to establish a line of research in the area of cooperative robotics with a focus on automation in production are expected. The position's main focus is the innovation of new methods and algorithms dealing with the challenges posed by heterogeneous teams of robots with different capabilities supporting and assisting humans with production processes. The distributed synchronisation of these teams, the skill acquisition of robots cooperating with humans and the dynamic planning and reconfiguration of automated processes under uncertainty as well as the modulation of the various team members are important technical and scientific challenges to be addressed. Research might focus on the following topics:

• Methods and architectures for control and synchronisation of multiple autonomous agents, especially robots, in cooperation with human actors
• Evaluation and research on anthropometric, ergonomic and cognitive aspects of human-robot cooperation
• Methods and procedures supporting the skill acquisition of robots cooperating with humans (e.g. imitation learning, tutoring, etc.)
• Methods and algorithms for distributed planning of complex tasks for heterogeneous teams
• Algorithms for controlling robots with a focus on active and passive flexibility of elastic actors
• Methods for designing safety within human-robot interaction especially for cooperative manipulation
• Wearable robotics and exoskeletons

The ability to contribute to the research topics listed above should be demonstrated by related scientific publications and projects. The potential of applying the findings within the area of automation in production should be demonstrated. We expect experience in leading research projects, especially collaborative projects, and the ability to raise substantial funds on national and international level. Ideally, the candidate already collaborated with partners from industry. Requirements for the professorship are a university degree in a relevant field, didactic aptitude, an outstanding dissertation, and further academic achievements. These will be evaluated exclusively and comprehensively in the appointment procedure (§ 36 Higher Education Act [HG]). Projects of high practical relevance paired with huge freedom of designing your research are expecting you. Bielefeld University and Fraunhofer-Gesellschaft are committed to a family-friendly research and teaching environment. They offer flexible working hours and support in reconciling profession and family to their employees. Applications should include:

• Cover letter
• Curriculum vitae
• Copies of diplomas
• List of publications and presentations, highlighting the most important papers
• Meaningful presentation of previous research
• Teaching concept
• Two-page document detailing the candidate's plans for research and teaching.

Please send your application by October 31, 2019 to both of the following addresses: Universität Bielefeld
Dekan der Technischen Fakultät
Prof. Dr. Markus Nebel
Postfach 10 01 31
D-33501 Bielefeld and Institutsleiter des Fraunhofer IOSB
Prof. Dr.-Ing. habil. Jürgen Beyerer
Fraunhoferstraße 1
76131 Karlsruhe