Internship: Robotics & Digital Twins – Build the Future of Autonomous Farming

Do you want to build real robots and smart environments that redefine the future of farming At Lely we offer an exciting group internship where youll work on two breakthrough innovation assignments: the development of fully functional autonomous robots and a physical scaled model of a smart dairy farmeach supported by its own digital twin. These projects lay the groundwork for future research in AI robotics and simulation.

As part of this internship you will specifically work with the Mirte Master robota scaled version of our autonomous Mirte platformused to simulate realistic robot behavior within the physical farm model. This hands-on prototype interacts within the model farms dedicated zones (feeding cleaning etc.) and is digitally mirrored in a virtual twin environment.

A key component of the project is the implementation of a beamer-based projection system to visualize real-time data from sensors and the simulation directly onto the physical model. This immersive data feedback loop enhances both monitoring and system understanding.

You will work in a team of four students collaborating closely on both physical and digital development. While its a group assignment there is room for individual research within the project scopeideal for students looking to align the internship with graduation or thesis work.

Your work will directly support our mission to create sustainable intelligent solutions for dairy farmers worldwide. Ready to join the front lines of agricultural robotics innovation Then this is your opportunity!

You will work on:

• Assemble physical robots based on a detailed bill of materials (BOM).
• Create a virtual twin of the robots in a 3D simulation environment (e.g. Unity3D).
• Develop a system to track the robots lifecycle: as designed as built and as maintained.
• Integrate real-time data streams into the digital model.
• (Optional) Expand the virtual environment with existing models of Mirte Pioneer robots.
• Construct a physical scaled model of a smart dairy farm with robot interaction zones (feeding cleaning etc.).
• Develop a digital twin of the farm aligned with the physical layout (e.g. Unity3D).
• Implement a system to simulate and project real-time operational data onto the farm model using a beamer.
• Integrate sensor feedback and behavior data into the virtual environment for monitoring and control.

Qualifications :

You are a tech-savvy student with a hands-on mindset and a passion for robotics simulation or system design. You enjoy solving real-world problems and are excited by the idea of building both physical prototypes and virtual systems.

We are looking for talent who have the following qualities or experience:

• You are currently enrolled in a bachelors or masters programme in Robotics Mechatronics Computer Science Embedded Systems or a related technical field.
• Experience or affinity with robotics platforms mechanical assembly or 3D modeling.
• Familiarity with simulation environments like Unity3D Gazebo or similar tools is a strong plus.
• Basic programming skills (e.g. Python C or C#).
• You are collaborative proactive and eager to learn.
• Fluent in English both spoken and written.

Aanvullende informatie :

At Lely we offer you an educational and dynamic internship experience at one of the most innovative organizations in the Netherlands. Youll become part of a driven team and have plenty of opportunities to further develop your talents.

• An international working environment
• An internship allowance of 400 per month
• A student apartment if your commute is too long
• Our modern Lely Campus gives you daily access to extensive sports facilities: an indoor gym outdoor padel courts a basketball and volleyball court as well as table tennis and foosball. You can join Hyrox workouts or sign up for personal training and challenge your colleagues during an active break.
• Enjoy fresh coffee and tea from our in-house barista made with milk straight from our farm and a healthy affordable company restaurant.
• A free shuttle bus takes you to and from the metro station in Maassluis ensuring your workday starts and ends smoothly.
• Were also proud that our dedication and vision have been recognized with the Rotterdam Entrepreneur Award 2025!

Remote Work :

No

Employment Type :

Intern