Internship Robotics Engineering | Improving picking queue based on reachability and ripeness
- Starting in September
- Oldenzaal, Overijssel
- Internship allowance
Currently, the apple picking robot puts all pickable apples in a queue based on their location and harvests the apples in this order. Apples are pickable if they are both ripe and reachable, i.e. not behind other apples. By requiring both aspects to be true, all apples that are picked are valuable. However, it could also be that one unripe apple blocks access to multiple ripe apples.
The current picking queue does not take this into account. In addition, the environment is changing, as apples that are picked change what can be seen of the apples behind it. To improve the picking behavior, the goal of this internship is to improve the decision-making process for which apples to pick.
Your assignment
Your assignment is to investigate methods to improve the decision-making process for the picking queue. The first step is to determine the factors influencing the picking decision, how this translates to a method/algorithm, and how these algorithms fit in the existing process. Once an algorithm has been selected, this needs to be implemented and tested.
Factors that are important are the location and ripeness of the fruit, but also the certainty of these measurements, as fruits can be partially hidden behind other fruits or leaves. In addition, multiple cameras are viewing the same scene, and can obtain different information about the same fruit.
Workflow
In our team, we work with the Agile/SCRUM workflow. We have a daily stand-up with the robotics team to share progress and identify obstacles. At the end of every 3-week sprint, you will present your results and plans for the next sprint. One of the robotics engineers will serve as your daily supervisor and main contact. You will have weekly one-on-one meetings for more in-depth discussions, and of course you can always reach out to your colleagues for support.
The team
We are a team of highly motivated robotics engineers working on various R&D projects such as the apple picking robot, metal recycling systems, and autonomously agricultural robots. We develop software for manipulation, vision, and navigation, primarily using C++ and ROS2, and focus on delivering robust solutions that can be deployed in real-world environments.
What can you expect from us?
A challenging internship with flexible working hours and a flexible start date. You will work in an organization that values enjoyment, collaboration, and solidarity. The atmosphere at RIWO ensures that you will feel at home during your internship and be able to be yourself.
We also offer:
- Guidance from experienced developers;
- A monthly internship allowance;
- Use of a RIWO bicycle for commuting between the train station and RIWO;
- The possibility of employment after graduation.
Are you currently studying in the Netherlands and interested? Apply via the form below and leave your details. You will receive a response within three working days.
Do you have any questions or would you like more information? Please contact Mick Boe-Bakker, Team Leader Application & Robotics Engineering, at m.boebakker@riwo.eu.