Internship: Wall‑Touch Detection Algorithm for the Lely Collector

Founded in 1948, Lely is committed to a sustainable, profitable, and enjoyable future in agriculture. Driven by the challenges faced by farmers and the needs of cows, we develop high-quality robots and data systems that improve animal welfare, flexibility, and productivity on dairy farms. Our mission is to support sustainable food production.

For more than 30 years, we have been a global leader in the sale and service of automated systems for successive generations of dairy farmers. Every day, we inspire our colleagues to offer customers innovative solutions and to be a reliable partner for long-term advice and support. With our state-of-the-art Lely Campus in Maassluis and a global network of dedicated Lely Centers offering customized sales and service, Lely is active in more than fifty countries.

What is your role?
Are you passionate about robotics, data-driven algorithms, and smart automation in agriculture? Join the Collector team at Lely as an intern and help us develop a wall‑touch detection algorithm that enables our robotic slurry collector to navigate barns more safely and intelligently.
This internship offers a unique opportunity to work at the intersection of robot perception, sensor data analysis, and robotics software engineering—directly contributing to the next generation of reliable and autonomous farm robots.

During your internship, you will:

• Investigate and analyze sensor data (e.g., IMU, wheel encoders, motor currents, or proximity sensors) to identify patterns related to wall‑touch events.
• Develop a data-driven detection algorithm capable of reliably identifying wall contacts during operation.
• Train, test, and validate your algorithm using real‑world datasets from barn environments.
• Collaborate with robotics engineers to integrate the algorithm into the Collector’s software stack.
Document your findings, models, and implementation steps to support continuous improvement.

You are an enthusiastic student who enjoys tackling complex technical challenges using analytical thinking and creativity. You have a strong affinity for data analysis, robotics, and algorithm development, and you're eager to apply your knowledge to impactful real‑world scenarios in agricultural automation.

You bring:

• Enrollment in an HBO or WO program such as Computer Science, Artificial Intelligence, Robotics, Data Science, or a related field.
• Experience with data analysis and/or machine learning (e.g., Python, NumPy, Pandas, scikit‑learn, PyTorch, or similar).
• Understanding of signal processing, classification models, or anomaly detection.
• Basic programming skills in Python or C++.
Interest in robotics, sensor fusion, or agricultural technology is a plus.

At Lely, we offer you an educational and dynamic internship experience at one of the most innovative organizations in the Netherlands. You’ll become part of a driven team and have plenty of opportunities to further develop your talents.

• An international working environment
• An internship allowance of €650 per month
• A student apartment if your commute is too long
• Our modern Lely Campus gives you daily access to extensive sports facilities: an indoor gym, outdoor padel courts, a basketball and volleyball court, as well as table tennis and foosball. You can join Hyrox workouts or sign up for personal training – and challenge your colleagues during an active break.
• Enjoy fresh coffee and tea from our in-house barista, made with milk straight from our farm, and a healthy, affordable company restaurant.
• A free shuttle bus takes you to and from the metro station in Maassluis, ensuring your workday starts and ends smoothly.
• We’re also proud that our dedication and vision have been recognized with the Rotterdam Entrepreneur Award 2025!