Internship: Research and Validation of Battery SoC and SoH Estimation for Autonomous Robots
Job description
Internship: Battery Diagnostics and System Integration for Lely Robotics
This opportunity centers on research, validation, and practical implementation within Lely's autonomous robot systems. Your primary mission is to define which state-of-charge (SoC) and state-of-health (SoH) estimation method offers the optimal balance of technical merit, economic sense, and ease of integration. You will work directly with Lead Carbon batteries deployed in robot platforms, evaluating solutions ranging from minimal hardware to advanced electronic integration. The internship is structured around three core pillars: analytical review, experimental testing, and real-world recommendation.
About the Role
You will own the entire testing workflow, from initial setup through final recommendation. This involves mapping battery behavior, designing experiments, and translating raw data into clear, actionable guidance for Lely platforms. You will determine how diagnostic capability evolves as system cost and complexity increase, and when added hardware becomes justified.
Key Responsibilities
You will design intake procedures for scenarios with no battery communication and minimal direct measurements. You will construct test routines to compare estimation methods across different cost and complexity tiers. You will analyze state-of-charge options based on voltage, current integration, and model-based techniques. You will evaluate state-of-health indicators such as available capacity, internal resistance, voltage patterns, and long-term aging trends. You will assess the influence of limited sensing and the value of supplementary electronics like cell balancers or battery management systems. You will scrutinize cost, complexity, robustness, and integration effort for every diagnostic path. You will conduct experimental validation through charge and discharge cycles, temperature variation tests, and comparisons between new and field-aged batteries. You will log and analyze voltage, current, capacity, efficiency, and temperature-related behavior. You will verify estimation accuracy against reference measurements and deliver a clear recommendation for robot applications. Depending on timing and hardware, you may develop a small proof of concept using Python-based data processing or test setup measurements.
Practical Information
This is an internship with a strong research and validation focus. Start date is flexible. The preferred duration is 24 weeks, with a commitment of at least 32 hours per week. The primary work location is the Lely Campus in Maassluis. You will receive guidance from experts in Electronics, Embedded Software, and System Engineering.
Requirements
You must possess an interest in battery technology, diagnostics, and energy storage for robotic systems. You should have an affinity with electronics, measurement systems, electric drive systems, and practical prototyping. You must be comfortable configuring experimental test equipment. Experience or interest in communication protocols such as CAN and Modbus for data acquisition and diagnostics is required. You need an analytical mindset dedicated to validating assumptions through experimentation. You must be able to work independently while actively collaborating with a team. Strong English communication skills are essential.
Nice to Have
Availability for 24 weeks, working a minimum of 32 hours per week.
What Lely Offers
Join an international, dynamic environment at one of the Netherlands' most innovative organizations. You will become part of a driven team with ample opportunities for professional growth.
- An international working environment.
- An internship allowance of €650 per month, based on a 40-hour work week.
- A student apartment if your commute is too long.
- Access to modern sports facilities, including an indoor gym, outdoor padel courts, basketball and volleyball courts, table tennis, and foosball. You can join Hyrox workouts or personal training.
- Fresh coffee and tea from an in-house barista, using milk from our farm, and a healthy, affordable company restaurant.
- A free shuttle bus to and from the metro station in Maassluis.
- Recognition through the Rotterdam Entrepreneur Award 2025.
Lely is committed to a sustainable, profitable, and enjoyable future for dairy farming, combining robotization, engineering, and farming expertise. This journey began over 75 years ago with two brothers in Maassluis. Today, we are an innovative global leader in automated systems for dairy farmers, with over 2,300 specialized professionals. We drive new agricultural revolutions from our Campus in Maassluis, the building with the highest sustainability rating in the Netherlands, while operating worldwide. Our goal is to keep dairy farming attractive for future generations.