Internship/Graduation assignment: Path planning and control for a UGV with trailer

Are you looking for a challenging and educational internship or graduation assignment in the field of autonomous robotics? Would you like to apply the theoretical knowledge that you’ve obtained during your studies on advanced simulations and physical robots? Then you are at the right place at Demcon Defense & Security Systems. Starting as soon as possible.

About Demcon

At Demcon you will find a growing and innovative company with very motivated people. We work in multidisciplinary teams on technically highly complex projects. We share an open, informal, cooperative, and inspired working atmosphere. We like new challenges and are willing to take things a step further. The Robotics Competence Group is a network of engineers working on technology development and customer projects. As intern, you will be part of this group. You will get a good impression of what it is to be part of the robotics team at Demcon.

The project:

• Demcon Defense & Security Systems is developing navigation algorithms for various projects and purposes, including autonomous outdoor, off-road navigation. Depending on the purpose of the vehicle, driving with a specific trailer attached to the vehicle is sometimes desired. This will make navigation in challenging terrain even more challenging.
• Your assignment would be to make the Demcon UGV ‘aware’ of the dynamic and kinematic restrictions a trailer brings. This involves state estimation of the trailer and adapted path planning and control to successfully navigate with a trailer. The assignment consists of researching scientific literature for possible approaches, implementing one or more of these algorithms and testing them in a simulated environment. Depending on robot availability, the possibility exists to test the algorithms on real unmanned vehicles. Depending on your background and educational requirements, the assignment can be adapted to a graduation assignment or into an internship.

What do you bring to the table?

• Studying for a BSc or MSc degree at HBO or WO, in fields such as Computer Science, Systems & Control, Robotics, Mechatronics or Artificial Intelligence.
• Affinity with programming and algorithms.
• Analytical and independent.
• Enthusiastic and proactive.
• Interested in robotics technology and autonomous vehicles.
• Available for at least 14 weeks (preferably more) to work at our location in Enschede.
• Experience in C++, Python and/or ROS (2) is a plus.

What do we offer you?

• At Demcon you will find a growing and innovative company with very motivated people. We work in multidisciplinary teams on technically highly complex projects. We share an open, informal, cooperative, and inspired working atmosphere. We like new challenges and are willing to take things a step further.
• The Robotics Competence Group is a network of engineers working on technology development and customer projects. As intern, you will be part of this group. You will get a good impression of what it is to be part of the robotics team at Demcon.
• A challenging and educational internship in a cooperative, multidisciplinary team where you work on the current state of the art robotic systems in the Netherlands.
• Depending on the assignment, the possibility to test your work on physical autonomous robots (UGVs and occasionally drones)!
• A direct day-to-day technical supervisor.