Internship: Making airport container positioning for a robot setup smarter
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
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.
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.
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: internship@vanderlande.com.
Vanderlande is a market-leading, global partner for future-proof logistic process automation in the warehousing, airports and parcel sectors. Its extensive portfolio of integrated solutions – innovative systems, intelligent software and life-cycle services – results in the realisation of fast, reliable and efficient automation technology.
The company focuses on the optimisation of its customers’ business processes and competitive positions. Through close cooperation, it strives for the improvement of their operational activities and the expansion of their logistical achievements.
Established in 1949, Vanderlande has more than 11,000 employees and a turnover of 2.3 billion euros.
Toyota Industries Corporation (TICO) acquired Vanderlande in 2017 to cement its global leading position within material handling. It aims to achieve this by increasing its presence in all integrated and automated projects, and capitalising on the synergies between the organisations and the added value they offer to the market.
TICO therefore launched the Toyota Automated Logistics Group (TALG), which consists of Toyota L&F, Bastian Solutions, Vanderlande and viastore. TALG is a global partner for integrated logistic process automation, with its group companies collaborating under the guiding principle: for every challenge, a reliable solution.
In May 2025, Vanderlande completed the acquisition of Siemens Logistics' operations outside the USA and in doing so welcomed more than 2,000 new employees. The acquisition supports the company’s strategic ambition to accelerate its growth in automated logistics, particularly strengthening its capacity to deliver baggage, cargo and digital airport solutions.
