Master Thesis (m/f/d) - Imitation and Transfer Learning of Model Predictive Controllers

At ABB, we help industries run leaner and cleaner—and every person here makes that happen. You’ll be empowered to lead, supported to grow, and proud of the impact we create together. Join us and help run what runs the world.

This position reports to:

R&D Team Lead

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As Optimization and Control Research Group of ABB's Corporate Research Center

Germany, we transfer recent academic insights and technology developments into prototypes of future products and systems.

We are looking for enthusiastic students to become part of our research and development team of a global, future-oriented company. Join us to learn from competent experts, gain insights on technologies, and get practical experience through challenging tasks in a project team. You will be involved in projects and perform a defined set of duties independently. Use your stay at corporate research center to build your professional network and become familiar with our company.

Key responsibilities

The work model for the role is: #LI-Hybrid

You will be mainly accountable for:

• Contributing to ongoing research activities on learning-based optimal control and model predictive control.
• Developing control strategies based imitation learning and surrogate models to increase computational efficiency and reduce response time.
• Exploring different architectures, algorithms and procedures to replace explicit model predictive controllers with learning-based alternatives.
• Evaluating the performance of the learning-based and imitation-based controllers with respect to accuracy and constraints satisfaction.
• As a member of our project team, you should be highly motivated to get familiar with an unknown topic, be interested in code development and complete your work tasks independently.

Qualifications for the role

• Bachelor’s degree in Control Engineering, Automation Engineering, Systems Engineering or similar.
• You have solid theoretical foundations on control theory, first experience with model identification and data analysis, and know how to build and run optimal control and model predictive control algorithms.
• You have first experience with programming languages, e.g., Python, C/C++.
• To communicate in our international team, you should have sound English skills in speaking and writing.
• Experience in numerical optimization and in the use of different optimization solvers (e.g., Ipopt, Gurobi, Cplex) is a plus.

More about us

ABB's Corporate Research Center Germany is located in Mannheim. The metropolitan Rhine-Neckar region offers vivid cities such as Mannheim and Heidelberg full of attractions. Additionally, nearby recreation areas such as the Forest of Odes and Palatinate provide numerous options for outdoor activities.

With the approval of your university, you can complete your master’s degree by spending four months with us as you work on a applications focused part of your thesis. You define the subject matter with us, with the support of the right contacts in various departments.

High-potential students working at ABB get a chance to become a part of our talent pool including various student events and personal contact at ABB's HR.

Interested in joining our team? We are looking forward to receiving your complete application through our online tool. In the case of equal suitability, people with severe disabilities and their equals are given preference.

ABB AG

+49 (0) 621 381 3500

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