Master Thesis - Development of a Tactile Sensor Concept for Mobile Outdoor Robots
In the Professional Service Robots - Outdoor research group we develop autonomous, mobile robots for a variety of outdoor applications, such as agriculture and forestry. The focus is on the development of an autonomous outdoor navigation solution as well as the hardware of the robots.
We are continuously developing our mobile agricultural robots - CURTmini, CURTdiff and CURTmaxi (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lb3cmzf3Tg4) - in ongoing projects. The safety concepts of conventional mobile service robots often cannot be used in outdoor areas, as such areas are significantly more complex. Particularly in the case of large autonomous robots, there is still a need to protect people and animals from damage. To fulfill these important safety functions, an effective but simple safety sensor system is needed on our mobile robots. The proposed thesis topic will therefore deal with the development of such a concept.
What you will do
As part of your Master's thesis, you will design and prototype a comprehensive safety sensor concept, presumably based on tactile environment detection, for our CURTdiff mobile outdoor robots. To do this, it is first necessary to research the relevant safety guidelines for robotics in the context of agriculture. Based on this, sensor concepts should then be designed to meet the requirements of the safety guidelines as well as the requirements for robustness in use in complex environmental scenarios (high grass, uneven ground, poor weather). The system will be designed in CAD, built in our workshop and tested under real conditions on our test fields for evaluation.
What you bring to the table
What you can expect
We also offer the possibility of direct entry for excellent graduates.
We value and promote the diversity of our employees' skills and therefore welcome all applications - regardless of age, gender, nationality, ethnic and social origin, religion, ideology, disability, sexual orientation and identity. Severely disabled persons are given preference in the event of equal suitability.
With its focus on developing key technologies that are vital for the future and enabling the commercial utilization of this work by business and industry, Fraunhofer plays a central role in the innovation process. As a pioneer and catalyst for groundbreaking developments and scientific excellence, Fraunhofer helps shape society now and in the future.
If you are interested, please submit a short letter of motivation on your personal favourite topic listed above, CV, current grade transcript to kevin.bregler@ipa.fraunhofer.de
Fraunhofer Institute for Manufacturing Engineering and Automation IPA
Requisition Number: 71231 Application Deadline:
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