Your mission
Join the future of wind energy
Kitepower is on a mission to contribute to a more sustainable world by flying kites that generate electricity. Founded as a spin-out of Delft University of Technology, we are developing our first commercial system to power farms, construction sites and communities with renewable airborne wind energy.
We believe innovation, collaboration, and purpose can change the world. That’s why we’re building a team of passionate people who want to make a real impact. We keep our structure flat and our culture open. We believe great ideas can come from anyone, anywhere. When you join Kitepower, you help bring clean energy to communities and industries across the planet.
Your profile
We are looking for an intern to join our hardware team in Delft. The hardware team is responsible for designing, developing and maintaining all physical components of our systems, for example the Kite Control Unit (KCU), kites and groundstation. You will have a challenging internship in renewable energy to apply your academic knowledge and gain valuable working experience.
What you will be doing
The main project that you will be working on is: “Improving an automated tether wear inspection system”. The primary focus of this project is the advancement of an automated tether wear inspection system. Building upon prior research that utilizes convolutional neural network (CNN)-based image classification, the goal is to further refine and implement a system capable of automating inspections. These inspections are crucial for ensuring the safety and reliability of the overall system, and the aim is to perform them either after each flight or, ideally, in real-time during a flight.
There are several key areas identified for potential improvement and development within this project:
Machine Learning Optimization: A significant part of the project will involve enhancing existing CNN-based models. This could entail experimenting with different network architectures, optimizing training parameters, exploring advanced machine learning techniques (e.g., transfer learning, few-shot learning), or developing more robust feature extraction methods. The aim is to improve the accuracy, speed, and generalization capabilities of the wear detection algorithms.
Hardware Integration: This aspect focuses on seamlessly integrating the improved machine learning models and refined system design with the physical hardware components. This might involve selecting and integrating appropriate cameras, lighting systems, embedded processing units, and communication interfaces. The challenge will be to ensure reliable data capture and processing in a real-world operational environment, considering factors like power consumption, weight, and environmental resilience.
Performance Validation: A critical phase of the project will be the testing and validation of the developed system. This will involve designing and conducting comprehensive experiments to evaluate the system’s accuracy, precision, recall, and overall effectiveness in detecting various types and degrees of tether wear.
Next to that we can use your help for:
Identify and troubleshoot mechanical, electrical and mechatronic issues in the current designs to improve system performance and reliability.
Conduct thorough testing and validation of mechatronic and electronic components to ensure compliance with safety and quality standards.
Aid in the assembly, benchmarking and integrating new or existing system components to ensure flight readiness.
About you
You ideally have the following qualities:
Studies in technical discipline (Mechanical, Aerospace, Physics, Computer Science, etc.)
Affiliation with deep learning algorithms
Interest in bridging the gap between theory and practice
Multidisciplinary curiosity, good practical technical understanding
Knowledge of relevant safety standards and regulations for electrical and mechatronic systems.
Good communication and organization skills
Fluent written and spoken English
Good observation skills and ability to give reliable feedback
And if you have more talents to offer… Let us know!
Why us?
At Kitepower, we believe that changing the world should be an exciting and rewarding journey. We invest in our team members' growth and well-being, offering a package that includes:
An internship allowance.
The freedom of taking responsibility and ownership of your own projects within a bigger development.
Valuable working experience in a leading renewable energy start-up
A dynamic culture: a flat and collaborative work environment where your ideas are valued and your voice is heard.
A great team atmosphere in a fast-growing start-up.
Professional growth: continuous learning opportunities in a multidisciplinary field that blends aerospace, mechatronics, power systems and software.
Join us.
If you want to help shape the future of renewable energy, challenge yourself with cutting-edge technology, and make a real impact on the world, Kitepower is the place to be.
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