Graduation Project: Objective Driven Antenna Design

Graduation Project: Objective Driven Antenna Design — When is an antenna good enough for the product in which it is used? At Nedap, you will investigate how design objectives and technical constraints can be translated into a clear, substantiated assessment of antenna performance. Your research will help engineers decide which design improvements to pursue.

• 24 - 38 hrs
• € 325 - € 650
• Hybrid

You will focus on one antenna application, which we will define together before you start. You will investigate which characteristics matter, compare design variants and explain why a design is or is not suitable.

You will work toward AI-assisted antenna optimization: an approach that proposes design variants, assesses their performance and uses the results to select the next design step. You will develop a substantiated evaluation methodology and demonstrate how it can guide an initial optimization loop. Together with your supervisors, you will agree on the depth and degree of automation to suit the selected application and the available time and resources.

What are you going to do?

Your responsibilities

During your assignment, you will:

Investigate and define the scope.

Translate the application’s design objectives into relevant antenna characteristics and distinguish requirements from preferences.

Compare and explain.

Develop a consistent way to assess antenna variants, identify what limits their performance and explain the trade-offs that guide design decisions.

Verify and substantiate.

Test your approach using simulation results from CST Studio Suite and discuss your findings with radio frequency (RF) engineers. Where possible, compare simulations with practical measurements and explain any differences.

Share and advise.

Document your research so that others can reproduce it and recommend further design improvements. Choose and justify your research methods and optimization or AI techniques in consultation with your supervisors.

Your team

You will join Nedap in Security and work with engineers covering the complete RF chain: from RF integrated circuits and front-end electronics to matching circuits, antenna integration and product performance. By discussing your findings with them, you will learn how your research informs practical design decisions and use their feedback to develop your approach.

Your assignment stems from practical antenna development questions. What happens when geometry, materials or integration conditions change? You will investigate how we can better assess and explain the consequences.

What’s in it for you?

At Nedap, you get the space and responsibility to shape your assignment in your own way, aligned with your team. This research challenge brings together electromagnetics, simulation and engineering, giving you the opportunity to deepen your antenna knowledge through a practical application.

You can work both remotely and from our Nedap Campus in Groenlo, depending on what suits your work best. For this assignment, you will work in Groenlo at least one day per week. Availability to be on campus at least two days per week is a plus.

What you can expect:

• Ownership: take ownership and shape your assignment in a way that creates real impact.
• Guidance: learn from experienced professionals and receive guidance throughout your assignment.
• Community: join our Nedap Studentday twice a year and connect with other students.
• Compensation: a monthly allowance between €550 and €650, based on full-time participation.
• Future opportunities: if there’s a match, we’re happy to explore opportunities to continue working together after your assignment.

Required skills

You enjoy investigating why an antenna performs the way it does and critically examining simulation results. You ask questions, take ownership of your research and seek feedback when it helps you move forward. You also recognize yourself in the following:

• Study background: you are studying Electrical Engineering or a comparable subject and have a foundation in electromagnetics.
• Interest: you want to deepen your knowledge of antennas and RF technology. Experience with simulation, measurement or data analysis is welcome; you do not need to be an antenna optimization or machine learning specialist yet.
• Research approach: you can explain engineering trade-offs and distinguish what you know, what you assume and what you still need to investigate.
• Language: you have a good command of spoken and written English. Knowledge of Dutch is a plus.
• Availability: you are available full-time for at least six months.

AI in your work

At Nedap, we see AI as a valuable tool to help us work smarter. We are curious about what it makes possible and actively explore how it can help us collaborate better, improve the way we work, and create solutions that truly matter. We expect you to do the same: remain curious, explore how AI can add value in your work, and use it thoughtfully, responsibly, and with sound judgment. We provide the tools, space, and support to do so.

About Nedap

Nedap is a global leader in Digital Twin Technology, bridging the physical and digital worlds in Retail, Healthcare, Livestock, and Security.