The research topic is“Creation of Co-Presence in Future Telepresence Systems Using Auditory Augmented Reality – Enhancement of Acoustic Properties of Virtual Representations of Real Audio Objects”.

Your Activities

The open position is part of a joint project funded from the Carl-Zeiss-Foundation. The project partners are other groups at Technische Universität Ilmenau focusing on audio, video, communication, robotic, and perception. The overall project is the creation of co-presence of humans and interactive companions for seniors (CO-HUMANICS) using AR and robotic technology.

With the help of position-dynamic binaural synthesis it is possible to enrich a real acoustic environment with additional virtual audio objects (auditory augmented reality). The listeners and the virtual audio objects can move freely in space. The virtual objects are representations of people on distant places, which are brought into the own place. The goal is to provide the listener with an auditory impression in which he or she perceives the virtual audio objects as plausible as in a real environment.

Your task is to investigate how such an audio system has to be set up to adequately fulfill the tasks of co-presence in an Audio-AR scenario. In particular, this involves methods to measure and/or estimate acoustic source properties like source expansion, directional characteristic and near-field effects, development of methods to augment the reproduced virtual audio objects in a new room with the named features using position-dynamic binaural synthesis, and the integration in a demonstration system including virtual visual representations using AR technologies. Starting from the technical realization, quality tests are to be performed to evaluate the suitability of the different acoustic augmentations.

The possibility to obtain a PhD is given. Besides research, you will support organizational and self-administration tasks of the university to an extent typical for scientists at German universities.

Your profile

• University Master degree in one of the fields of media technology or corresponding engineering or natural science subjects, such as electrical engineering, computer science, neuroinformatic, computer linguistics or physics
  
• expertise in one or better more of the following areas: Audio/video/multimedia technology, spatial audio systems, spatial hearing, telecommunications / network technology, digital signal processing, statistical analysis procedures, implementation / analysis of empirical studies
  
• good knowledge in areas such as dynamic binaural synthesis, acoustics, psychoacoustics, and real-time implementation of algorithms. Knowledge in modelling of perception and/or cognition is a plus
  
• good knowledge in at least one of the programming languages: Python/C/C++/MATLAB. Knowledge in using Unity/Unreal or similar is a plus.
  
• interest in multidisciplinary research at the interface between technology and human perception
  
• very good communication skills, commitment, enthusiasm, independent working style as well as initiative and team spirit
  
• high proficiency in English (spoken and written) is required and knowledge of German is a bonus