Job offer

Organisation/Company ESTIA

Research Field Computer science » Systems design Engineering » Mechanical engineering Engineering » Electronic engineering Engineering » Computer engineering Engineering » Systems engineering

Researcher Profile First Stage Researcher (R1) Positions PhD Positions Country France

Application Deadline 1 Aug 2025 - 23:59 (Europe/Brussels)

Type of Contract Temporary Job Status Full-time Hours Per Week 35 Offer Starting Date 1 Sep 2025

Is the job funded through the EU Research Framework Programme? Not funded by a EU programme

Is the Job related to staff position within a Research Infrastructure? No

Offer Description

Title
Shape-Changing Tangible Interfaces for Improving Decision-Making in Airport Tarmac Intrusion Management

Context
Airport perimeter security is crucial for national sovereignty. Traditional perimeter security of airports relies on human patrols, permeable fencing, and limited static systems (cameras, radars), which are often inadequate over large distances and unique to each airport environment. The PANDRONE project seeks to enhance security with drones, robots, and sensors, adaptable to diverse airport environments to complement or replace existing systems.

Problem
An effective user interface is essential for assisting operators in monitoring and controlling the swarm of drones, robots, and sensors deployed around the airport perimeter. This tool will enable operators to implement security strategies, detect intrusions, and make informed decisions. While Graphical User Interfaces (GUIs) offer malleability through graphical elements in a limited 2D format, Tangible User Interfaces (TUIs) leverage physical objects to better support collaboration, assist embodied thinking, sustain external memory, and enable parallel actions through spatially distributed interactions. Thus, TUIs take full advantage of human cognitive, motor, and collaborative skills developed in the 3D world. However, TUIs lack the malleability of Graphical User Interfaces (GUIs) since their physical properties (position, orientation, color, transparency, shape, etc.) cannot be easily changed using software.

Approach
To address TUIs’ lack of malleability, the field of shape-changing interfaces (SCIs) has emerged, assuming that physical objects will soon become as adaptable as virtual ones. These novel kinds of interfaces use physical shape-change as input and/or output for the computer system. SCIs aim to blur the boundary between physical and virtual objects, combining the physicality of Tangible User Interfaces (TUIs) with the malleability of Graphical User Interfaces (GUIs). SCIs are interactive devices performing physical transformations in response to user inputs or system events, enabling them to convey information, meaning, or affect. Researchers have already developed and explored various actuated architectures for SCIs, enabling malleable TUIs.

Scientific objectives:

• Conduct a comprehensive review of existing shape-changing tangible interaction techniques and technologies.
• Identify decision-making tasks where tangible interaction could offer advantages over graphical interaction but is currently limited by insufficient malleability.
• Investigate the utility and feasibility of introducing novel shape-changing capabilities that enhance the malleability of tangible user interfaces, focusing on their potential benefits for the identified operator tasks.
• Evaluate the usability of these new shape-changing capabilities, analyzing their impact on interaction flow and assessing their effect on operators’ performance in comparison to other interaction styles in the selected tasks.

Where to apply

E-mail: m.daniel@estia.fr

Requirements

Research Field Computer science » Systems design Education Level Master Degree or equivalent

Research Field Engineering » Computer engineering Education Level Master Degree or equivalent

Research Field Engineering » Electronic engineering Education Level Master Degree or equivalent

Research Field Engineering » Mechanical engineering Education Level Master Degree or equivalent

Research Field Engineering » Systems engineering Education Level Master Degree or equivalent

Skills/Qualifications

Required:

• Completed a Master (or equivalent) in Robotics, Mechatronics, Computer Science, or Electronics.
• Self-motivated and creative, able to take on initiative.
• Experience with projects mixing mechanics, electronics, and informatics.

Appreciated:

• Experience in designing mechanical parts using computer-aided design software (e.g., OnShape, Fusion 360, AutoCAD).
• Experience in designing a printed circuit board using computer-aided design software (e.g., Fritzing, EasyEDA, KiCad).
• Assembly experience with mechanical parts and electronic components (e.g., 3D-printed object integrating a microcontroller, sensor, and motor).
• Programming experience with a microcontroller to read sensors and control actuators (e.g., Arduino, ESP, Feather).

Languages

ENGLISH Level: Good

FRENCH Level: Good

Additional Information

• Teaching Requirements: 150 hours of teaching duties over the course of the doctoral contract
• Salary: €27,740 gross/year for the first two years, €28,706 for the final year
• Paid leave: 30 days
• Social benefits package: 70% coverage of health insurance, meal vouchers (€9 value), profit-sharing agreement (based on 3% of annual salary), various bonuses, employee benefits committee, sustainable mobility package.
• Master 2 (or equivalent) Transcript (Required)
• Letter of Motivation (Appreciated)
• Letter of Recommendation (Appreciated)

Candidates' formal assessment will continue until the position is filled.