You will gain a great experience in learning all the instruments, procedures and technical aspects with the support of your tutor and colleagues of the Department.
Italdesign is expanding its activities in the field of robotics to diversify the services offered to customers and, at the same time, to further enhance the quality delivered to major automotive clients.
Among the services offered to the market is the production of Low Series (LS) Premium vehicles, which require exceptionally high-quality standards. Unlike mass production, which follows a standardized process, LS assembly is tailored to each individual vehicle. This requires continuous quality checks at the end of every phase to ensure full compliance with specifications. A robotic system will support the company in fully automating these activities and increasing the applied quality standards.
Thesis Project
As thesis student, you will be supported by your Tutor to analyse and develop the following project about the design of an Autonomous Guided Vehicle (AGV) and a robotic arm to fully automatize quality checks providing more flexibility in the use inside the company.
During the thesis project, the student will be required to carry out the following activities:
- Analysis of current quality processes: map manual inspections, bottlenecks, variant impact on procedures and time;
- Technology benchmarking: AGVs suitable for premium environments (cleanliness, safety, precision stops); Collaborative vs. industrial robotic arms (reach, stiffness, speed, safety regimes);
- Functional: measurement types, accuracy/repeatability targets, accessibility, vehicle variants;
- Non‑functional: safety, ergonomics, robustness/availability, takt/cycle‑time targets;
- HMI: operator roles, interventions, alarms, recoveries;
- Navigation & mobility constraints in the LS production environment (lanes, docking points, forbidden zones);
- Measurement systems (laser/structured‑light scanners, photogrammetry, contact/inductive);
- Tool‑changer & modular end‑effectors (payload, repeatability, utilities);
- Propose 2–3 architectures;
- Pros/cons with engineering justification (stability, reachability, inspection coverage, takt);
- Mechanical risk register: stability, vibrations, potential collisions, cable/energy supply;
- Preliminary Hardware definition (types of sensors, control board, electric motors, etc..);
- Early feasibility layout: rough CAD mockups, reach envelopes.
Requirements
Key requirements
- Passion and interest in robotics, automation, and automotive manufacturing;
- Strong teamwork attitude and ability to collaborate in multidisciplinary environments;
- Innovation-oriented mindset and curiosity toward emerging technologies;
- Responsibility and integrity;
- Good interpersonal and communicative skills;
- Flexible and hardworking;
- Good time management capability and proactivity;
- Good knowledge of Microsoft Office Package (Word, Excel, PowerPoint).
Preferential requirements
- Experience or coursework in robotics, mechatronics, or industrial automation;
- Familiarity with robotic manipulators (collaborative or industrial);
- Understanding of 3D measurement systems (laser scanners, structured light, photogrammetry);
- Experience with CAD tools (e.g., CATIA, SolidWorks, Siemens NX);
- Interest in quality control processes and metrology.
Other Informations
Additional Information
Education: Attending a Master’s Degree in Mechanic and Mechatronic;
Language skills: Fluent knowledge of written and spoken Italian and English (at least B2 level);
Workplace: Moncalieri (TO), Italy;
Contract type: thesis project with estimated duration about 6 months;
Benefit: company canteen, multicultural environment.
Italdesign is committed to create an inclusive, diverse and safe workplace, and we are proud to be an equal opportunity employer (L.903/77).
We welcome applications from all candidates, regardless of the gender, ethnic, religion, sexual orientation, disability, parental status, or social origin.