It all began with a bold idea he wanted to explore. Today, he's mentored three thesis projects at Kollmorgen, empowering curious students to make a real impact while driving us forward. Meet Rasmus Åkerlund, our Data Scientist, Software Developer, and passionate tech futurist.  

At Kollmorgen, we thrive on fresh ideas. With over 50 years of experience, we are a technology leader in navigation and fleet control of automated guided vehicles (AGVs) and autonomous mobile robots (AMRs). Our NDC Solutions, a leading AGV/AMR platform used by top vehicle builders worldwide, integrates fleet management software and robust vehicle navigation hardware to automate any type of vehicle or mobile robot for specialized material handling applications. To keep pushing the boundaries of vehicle automation, we continuously challenge ourselves and welcome new perspectives. Our thesis projects exemplify this commitment to innovation. 

"Every graduate writing their bachelor or master thesis here at Kollmorgen is all part of creating something that will make a true impact. The people here are dedicated to making sure that the students' work is grounded and truly useful. Together, we're building something lasting, something that will continue to thrive", says Rasmus.   

 Rasmus was initially inspired to mentor thesis projects by the idea of using machine learning to predict traffic scenarios in AGV systems. Currently, he is supervising one project focused on predicting simulation results and another on visualizing those results. His favorite part of mentoring? Working with students to tackle complex problem-solving challenges together. 

"It's exciting to see how other domains and applications approach our challenges and view our problems through the lens of different fields. I enjoy collaborating with students in this problem-solving process, brainstorming in front of the whiteboard, and sketching out different equations together", Rasmus continues.  This spring, we are seeking new students for a thesis project that explores how to build a user experience based on AI models, focusing on design that makes users feel supported. 

"This thesis project offers a rare opportunity to work on truly innovative research. While similar machine learning models have been studied before, to my knowledge, they have never been applied to the specialized domain of AGV systems and mobile robots. To make these models effective in our context, we have had to adapt and modify them, incorporating entirely new mechanisms. This is far from simply replicating existing methods – in this project the students will delve into an intriguing domain, tackle a complex problem, and create something that no one else in the world is currently pursuing." 

If you're ready to make your mark and embark on an exciting journey of discovery, we invite you to apply for a thesis project with us at Kollmorgen! Discover our open positions here. [Join us! - Kollmorgen – Autonomous Mobile Solutions]