Research assistant to develop and validate the delft automated agriculture testbed (daat)

Precision horticulture for protected systems (e.g., greenhouses, vertical farms) has great potential to improve the productivity, profitability, and sustainability of agriculture by optimizing climate control actions (e.g., adjusting temperature, humidity) and crop management (e.g. Robotic pruning, harvesting) automatically and intelligently in response to the current state of the plant. Researchers at TU Delft are currently working to develop the next generation of control algorithms and robotics for precision horticulture. To provide a realistic prototyping environment and establish proof-of-concept for these technologies, the Faculty of Mechanical Engineering in collaboration with the Hortus Botanicus and Robohouse are developing the Delft Automated Agriculture Testbed (DAAT) to test these advanced algorithms and robotics in a small-scale greenhouse.

We are therefore seeking a motivated individual with experience in high-tech greenhouses, biosystems engineering, or other relevant engineering experience to help configure this greenhouse environment and experimentally test these advanced algorithms and robotic systems. This individual will be responsible for configuring and testing relevant sensors, climate control hardware, and robotics in the DAAT. The individual, in collaboration with Masters and PhD students, will then implement advanced climate control and robotics systems in the DAAT. In particular, the goal of this project is to conduct novel studies on the effects of combining intelligent climate control and autonomous crop managed systems.

Delft University of Technology is built on strong foundations. As creators of the world-famous Dutch waterworks and pioneers in biotech, TU Delft is a top international university combining science, engineering and design. It delivers world class results in education, research and innovation to address challenges in the areas of energy, climate, mobility, health and digital society. For generations, our engineers have proven to be entrepreneurial problem-solvers, both in business and in a social context.

At TU Delft we embrace diversity as one of our core values and we actively engage to be a university where you feel at home and can flourish. We value different perspectives and qualities. We believe this makes our work more innovative, the TU Delft community more vibrant and the world more just. Together, we imagine, invent and create solutions using technology to have a positive impact on a global scale. That is why we invite you to apply. Your application will receive fair consideration.

Challenge. Change. Impact!

From chip to ship. From machine to human being. From idea to solution. Driven by a deep-rooted desire to understand our environment and discover its underlying mechanisms, research and education at the ME faculty focuses on fundamental understanding, design, production including application and product improvement, materials, processes and (mechanical) systems.

ME is a dynamic and innovative faculty with high-tech lab facilities and international reach. It's a large faculty but also versatile, so we can often make unique connections by combining different disciplines. This is reflected in ME's outstanding, state-of-the-art education, which trains students to become responsible and socially engaged engineers and scientists. We translate our knowledge and insights into solutions to societal issues, contributing to a sustainable society and to the development of prosperity and well-being. That is what unites us in pioneering research, inspiring education and (inter)national cooperation.

Click here to go to the website of the Faculty of Mechanical Engineering. Do you want to experience working at our faculty? These videos will introduce you to some of our researchers and their work.

• CV
• Motivational letter

Please note:

• A pre-employment screening can be part of the selection procedure.
• For the final candidates, a knowledge security check will be part of the application procedure. For more information on this check, please consult Chapter 8 of the National Knowledge Security Guidelines. We carry out this check on the basis of legitimate interest.
• Please do not contact us for unsolicited services.