Internship: Motor Controller Design

We are looking for an intern to join our Robotics team and contribute to the development of a workout device designed for astronauts. The device uses a passive constant force mechanism (CFM) to generate a pulling force on a rope, which will be used to perform exercises in microgravity. A motor will be integrated in line with the rope to modulate the output force, enabling advanced functionalities such as adding or subtracting force to the CFM, simulating inertia, and operating as a rowing machine.

The intern will be responsible for designing a motor controller capable of real-time force application to the rope, developing a concept for the control strategy, and ensuring that safety aspects are incorporated into the design. The role also includes implementing the hardware in a ground-based demonstrator and working closely with a mechanical engineer to improve mechanical force application.

The intern will be supervised by a control engineer from the Robotics team and will gain hands-on experience in motor control, safety-critical design, and multidisciplinary collaboration.

·       Location: Sint-Stevens-Woluwe (Brussels Area)

·       Duration: From 3 to 6 months

·       Start date: Quarter 1, 2026.

Tasks and Responsibilities

·       Set up a complete test environment including motor, sensors, data acquisition (DAQ) system, and controller

·       Configure and validate sensor connections to the DAQ and ensure accurate data acquisition

·       Define and document control schemes tailored to different exercise types

·       Develop a comprehensive safety strategy for the motor controller, addressing potential failure modes and edge cases

·       Implement the proposed control strategy in the controller hardware/software

·       Conduct functional testing of the controller in the test bed under normal operating conditions

·       Perform edge case testing and verify all safety features of the controller

·       Integrate the motor and control hardware into the Ground Demonstrator system

·       Execute validation tests on the complete system to confirm performance and safety compliance

·       Saving measurement data and display of parameters on the GUI

·       A Master’s degree (or equivalent) in Engineering

·       Knowledge of electric motors, sensors, and DAQ systems

·       Solid understanding of control theory, including feedback systems, system modelling, stability analysis, and controller tuning for discrete-time systems

·       Experience with programming for controllers (C/C++ or Python)

·       Solid experience in using tools such as GitHub and ROS2

·       Familiarity with data acquisition tools and signal processing

·       Ability to design and implement safety strategies (fault detection, safe states)

·       Hands-on skills for hardware integration and wiring

·       Competence in testing and validation (normal and edge cases)

·       Proficiency in data handling and visualization (Python, MATLAB, or LabVIEW)

·       Documentation and communication skills for control schemes and test results

·       An experience within a growing company with highly motivated Engineers, Scientists and Administrative Staff coming from all different horizons and countries

·       A professional and multicultural working atmosphere

·       A client exposure and networking opportunities

·       A full-time Internship with a monthly lump sum allowance, under certain conditions.