Fully Funded Joint PhD Opportunity | BITS Pilani × RMIT University Deadline: 28 March 2026

Website: bits-pilani.ac.in
Job details:

Pursue cutting-edge research with dual supervision at BITS Pilani and RMIT Melbourne.

I am pleased to invite applications for a PhD project applying Model-Based Systems Engineering (MBSE) to design, simulate, and deploy autonomous drone fleets for the inspection and maintenance of large-scale solar farms. This is a systems-level challenge that sits at the intersection of renewable energy, robotics, and rigorous engineering design methodology.

The project integrates swarm robotics, computer vision, and Digital Twin within a Model-Based Systems Engineering framework.

The program provides:

• Annual stipend for those with a first degree (B.E. / M.Sc.) qualification: INR 5,13,600 (approx. Rs. 42,800/month).
• Annual stipend for those with a higher degree (M.E. / M.Tech.) qualification: INR 5,49,600 (approx. Rs. 45,800/month).
• Joint PhD award from BITS Pilani and RMIT University
• Full tuition scholarship from RMIT + subsidised fees at BITS
• Handsome stipend, health insurance, visa fees & return airfare to Melbourne
• Co-supervision and access to infrastructure across both institutions
• A global academic experience, starting at BITS and extending with up to a year in Australia

Suitable candidates will have a background in AI, Electronics, CS, Computer Engineering, or Computer Vision, with strong Python and ML foundations.

👥 Supervisory Team

• Dr. G Sai Sesha Chalapathi – BITS Pilani

• Dr. Wei Qin Chuah – RMIT University

• Prof. Ben Cheng – RMIT University (Co-supervisor)

• Dr. Toh Yen Pang – RMIT University (Co-supervisor)

📅 Application Deadline: 28 March 2026

🔗 To learn more or To apply: https://bitspilaniedu.com/rmit/bitsrmitphdwebsite/ResearchProjectDetail.aspx?progCode=675

📌 Project ID: BRJP26100104

📌 Title: Digital Twin-Driven Multi-Agent Coordination for Autonomous Solar Farm Maintenance: An MBSE Approach

For queries, feel free to reach out directly or leave a comment below.

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