Internship: Making airport container positioning robot setup smarter

Internship:
Making airport container positioning for a robot setup smarter

Assignment type:
Internship

Start date:

February 2027 Assignment duration: 6 months

Location:

Veghel Education level:
Bachelor / Master Desired study: mechatronics, mechanical engineering, industrial automation, systems & control Language:
Dutch / English

Airports are fast-paced, dynamic environments where every minute counts and operational movements directly impact capacity, safety, and efficiency. At Vanderlande, we develop advanced robotic solutions to automate airport baggage and container handling. However, before a robot can process airplane containers, incoming container trains ("dolly trains") must be positioned accurately, and the system must reliably detect what type of equipment has arrived.

In this hands‑on internship, you will investigate how our robotic loading setups can better handle diverse dolly train configurations ranging from single‑dolly setups to mixed‑type trains. You will explore smart detection concepts to help the system distinguish between tractors and container types, evaluate whether driver input can be eliminated through automated sensing, and test your scenarios on a real test setup or via computer simulations.

Your insights will directly shape requirements for future airport automation solutions.

You will join the Robotics Airports team within Vanderlande's Technology organization, where we design innovative automation concepts for modern airport baggage operations. Our team works on cutting‑edge robotics and smart airport logistics, collaborating closely with experts in software, controls, mechanics, safety, and international customer projects.

• Analyze various dolly train configurations and operational flows used in airport container handling
• Investigate smart detection methods to recognize train composition and differentiate between tractors and container types
• Evaluate whether driver input can be minimized or replaced through intelligent sensing and process design
• Test and validate proposed scenarios using computer simulations or hands‑on testing on a physical setup
• Translate research findings into clear requirements, process flows, and recommendations for future development

• Curious and analytical mindset with a strong interest in robotics, automation, and logistics systems
• Ability to structure complex operational challenges into clear process flows and practical scenarios
• Strong communication skills to gather input and validate assumptions with engineers and stakeholders
• Proactive attitude and eagerness to combine desk research with hands‑on testing activities
• Mandatory enrolment to a Dutch Education System & resident of The Netherlands

• A monthly internship allowance (based on a 40-hour work week):
  Bachelor: €500 per month
• Master: €550 per month
• Full commuting allowance, including public transport, depending on whether you have access to free public transport or not
• On‑site health center with gym
• Active employee communities and initiatives
• Excellent company restaurant and barista coffee bar

Every day, millions of people rely on Vanderlande without even knowing it. From baggage checked in at the airport to parcels on their way to someone’s doorstep, our automation solutions help keep the world moving. Vanderlande designs, delivers, and supports automation technology, operational software, and lifecycle services for leading airports and parcel operations worldwide. Across more than 100 countries, our customers rely on us to keep their operations moving reliably, efficiently, and sustainably.

Behind every solution are the people who make it happen. At Vanderlande, how we work matters just as much as what we deliver. Our values, Every Day Better, We Care, and Team Play, guide how we collaborate, support each other, and create value for our customers. Here, you can work with colleagues across disciplines and cultures, contribute to work that makes a difference, and build your future in an organisation that invites you to grow.

Explore what is possible at Vanderlande and discover how you can make an impact. Aspire. Grow. Achieve. Together.