Thesis Work for Safe Reinforcement Learning and Automated Parametric Tuning for Industrial Processes and Robotics

Placering
Västerås

Thesis Work for Safe Reinforcement Learning and Automated Parametric Tuning for Industrial Processes and Robotics
At ABB, we are dedicated to addressing global challenges. Our core values: care, courage, curiosity, and collaboration - combined with a focus on diversity, inclusion, and equal opportunities - are key drivers in our aim to empower everyone to create sustainable solutions. That's our story. Make it your story.
This position reports to
R&D Team Lead

Your role and responsibilities
ABB Corporate Research Center in Sweden is located in Västerås, about 100 kilometers west of Stockholm. Together with our colleagues in other R&D centers we develop technologies for future products and services for ABB's core businesses. Traditional control methods often struggle in complex and dynamic environments, making reinforcement learning (RL) as a promising alternative. However, standard RL approaches present significant risks during both training and deployment, especially in high-stakes applications where failures can lead to significant damage or financial loss. This thesis addresses these challenges by developing safe RL frameworks and automated parametric tuning techniques to ensure system reliability and stability. These innovations not only improve the performance of industrial and robotic systems but also support broader adoption, advancing automation while minimizing risks and reducing the need for manual intervention. Details: • Start in January/February 2025 for a duration of 5 months • 30 ECTS per student • 1-2 students • On site ABB Corporate Research in Västerås – ABB may cover the accommodation Research topics: • How can reinforcement learning (RL) methods be adapted to guarantee safety during both training and deployment phases? • What approaches can automate parametric tuning while ensuring system stability and operational efficiency? • Which optimization algorithms are most effective for parameter tuning in industrial settings? • How can RL models be generalized across various robotic systems and processes with minimal manual intervention? Goals: • Design and implement RL frameworks that ensure safety during both the training phase and real-time deployment • Develop automated methods for parametric tuning in industrial processes and robotics Approach: The work will address the following points: • Problem formulation & case study selection • Prior art review • Method and algorithm development • Analyze results and draw conclusions

Qualifications for the role

• Drive and interest to work with real-world use cases
• Background in control engineering, computer science, robotics, or a related field
• Knowledge on optimization and reinforcement learning
• Programming skills in Python or MATLAB
• Self-driven and solution oriented
• Good spoken and written English
• Analyze results and draw conclusions
• Good soft skills and collaborative spirit

More about us
Bring your very own sense of pride and purpose as you help us drive forward the Fourth Industrial Revolution – creating a sustainable future for our planet, and your career. Join ABB and harness the power of our diverse global network, as you collaborate with and learn from our world-class teams. Above all, challenge yourself every day. Let’s write the future, together. More information: Recruiting Manager Linus Thrybom, +46 730 80 99 06, will answer your questions. Any other questions please contact, Soroush Rastegarpour ([email protected]). Please note that we can only accept applications submitted through our online career portal. Applications via e-mail will have to be deleted and not processed due to data privacy requirements. Positions are filled continuously. Apply with your CV, academic transcripts and a cover letter in English. Welcome to apply! We value people from different backgrounds. Could this be your story? Apply today or visit www.abb.com to read more about us and learn about the impact of our solutions across the globe. #MyABBStory #Li-onsite

Locations
Västerås, Sweden