Internship: Making airport container positioning for a robot setup smarter
€550 per month
Key Skills
Job Description
Job Title
Internship: Making airport container positioning for a robot setup smarterJob Description
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
Description of assignment
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.
Department description
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.
Tasks/responsibilities
- 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
Your profile
- 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
What we offer
- 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
Contact
Do you recognize yourself in this challenging profile? Are you looking for an internship in our organization? Please fill out the application form and upload your resume and cover letter. For more information, contact us by e-mail: [email protected].
Core Responsibilities
You will analyze airport dolly train configurations and investigate smart detection methods to automate container handling. Additionally, you will validate proposed scenarios through computer simulations or physical testing to shape future automation requirements.
Requirements
Candidates must be enrolled in a Dutch education system and reside in the Netherlands while pursuing a degree in mechatronics, mechanical engineering, or industrial automation. A curious, analytical mindset and the ability to translate complex operational challenges into practical process flows are required.
Benefits
- Internship allowance
- Commuting allowance
- On-site health center
- Gym
- Company restaurant
- Barista coffee bar
About Vanderlande
Industry: Automation Machinery Manufacturing
Company size: 10,001+ employees
Vanderlande is the long-term partner of choice for the world’s leading airports and distribution operators – delivering automation solutions, operational software, and lifecycle services that drive performance, reliability, and sustainable growth. Vanderlande empowers the world’s most demanding airports and distribution operations to move faster, smarter, and more sustainably. As a trusted long-term partner, Vanderlande designs, delivers, and manages end-to-end logistics automation — combining best-in-class mechanical systems with cyber-secure operational software and data-driven services that keep mission-critical infrastructure performing at its peak. Serving the world’s top 50 airports and the largest parcel and e-commerce distribution networks globally, including partnerships with industry leaders such as UPS, DHL, FedEx, and GeoPost.Vanderlande brings unmatched operational intimacy to every engagement. Customers choose Vanderlande not only for the longevity and reliability of its solutions, but for its proven commitment to project delivery: when challenges arise, Vanderlande leans in. Founded in 1949 and part of Toyota Industries Corporation, Vanderlande combines seven decades of engineering excellence with a forward-looking approach to digital innovation and sustainability — continually reducing the energy footprint of its systems and making responsible choices across its global supply chain. With nearly 10,000 employees and revenues approaching €3 billion, Vanderlande operates across Europe, the Middle East, North America, and Asia-Pacific, delivering solutions that move people, goods, and possibilities forward.