Overview
Retinomorphic computer vision uses cameras which imitate the behaviour of the human eye, reporting information only on movement, rather than periodic reporting of the light intensity at all pixels. This removes redundant information but results in very high-speed information streams which require programmable hardware for real-time processing. These streams are composed of valid events resulting from movement in the field of vision of the sensor, but also noisy events induced by thermal or other effects in the sensor circuitry.
This project addresses efficient real-time processing of event streams using programmable hardware such as Field Programmable Gate Array (FPGA). A key series of operations need to be performed, including activity filtering to separate valid events from noise, along with movement detection and other image processing tasks. Data rates can reach billions of events per second and so high speed digital circuitry is required to support real-time processing.
Key to this efficiency is ensuring optimal design of computer arithmetic. Employing different kinds of arithmetic, and words of different sizes, is a key factor influencing both the accuracy of the operations and their cost. This project will study innovative use of computer arithmetic to ensure the most optimal balance of operation accuracy, speed and cost on programmable hardware.
The specific objectives of the project are to:
[1] Become familiar with retinomorphic computer vision, event-driven data processing and programmable hardware.
[2] Characterise the effectiveness of existing retinomorphic computer vision operations for denoising, motion detection and tracking on programmable hardware.
[3] Devise novel algorithms for the operations above which improve accuracy under finite-precision arithmetic constraints.
[4] Extend the techniques above to optimise performance (speed) and cost on programmable hardware.
[5] Present your work in leading international journals and conferences in the area.
Funding Information
To be eligible for consideration for a Home DfE or EPSRC Studentship (covering tuition fees and maintenance stipend of approx. £19,237 per annum), a candidate must satisfy all the eligibility criteria based on nationality, residency and academic qualifications.
To be classed as a Home student, candidates must meet the following criteria and the associated residency requirements:
• Be a UK National,
or • Have settled status,
or • Have pre-settled status,
or • Have indefinite leave to remain or enter the UK.
Candidates from ROI may also qualify for Home student funding.
Previous PhD study MAY make you ineligible to be considered for funding.
Please note that other terms and conditions also apply.
Please note that any available PhD studentships will be allocated on a competitive basis across a number of projects currently being advertised by the School.
A small number of international awards will be available for allocation across the School. An international award is not guaranteed to be available for this project, and competition across the School for these awards will be highly competitive.
Academic Requirements:
The minimum academic requirement for admission is normally an Upper Second Class Honours degree from a UK or ROI Higher Education provider in a relevant discipline, or an equivalent qualification acceptable to the University.
Entrance requirements
Graduate
The minimum academic requirement for admission to a research degree programme is normally an Upper Second Class Honours degree from a UK or ROI HE provider, or an equivalent qualification acceptable to the University. Further information can be obtained by contacting the School.
International Students
For information on international qualification equivalents, please check the specific information for your country.
English Language Requirements
Evidence of an IELTS* score of 6.0, with not less than 5.5 in any component or equivalent qualification acceptable to the University is required (*taken within the last 2 years).
International students wishing to apply to Queen’s University Belfast (and for whom English is not their first language), must be able to demonstrate their proficiency in English in order to benefit fully from their course of study or research. Non-EEA nationals must also satisfy UK Visas and Immigration (UKVI) immigration requirements for English language for visa purposes.
For more information on English Language requirements for EEA and non-EEA nationals see: www.qub.ac.uk/EnglishLanguageReqs.
If you need to improve your English language skills before you enter this degree programme, INTO Queen’s University Belfast offers a range of English language courses. These intensive and flexible courses are designed to improve your English ability for admission to this degree.
How to Apply
Apply using our online Postgraduate Applications Portal and follow the step-by-step instructions on how to apply.
Find a supervisor
If you’re interested in a particular project, we suggest you contact the relevant academic before you apply, to introduce yourself and ask questions.
To find a potential supervisor aligned with your area of interest, or if you are unsure of who to contact, look through the staff profiles linked here.
You might be asked to provide a short outline of your proposal to help us identify potential supervisors.