Thesis Project – AI as an Engineering Aid

Sandvik; Gimo; On-site; SEK 268,000 - 312,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Lump-sum compensation

Job summary

Sandvik Coromant invites a thesis student to explore AI as an engineering aid for modernizing legacy Adept/V+ robot installations. The project is a proof-of-concept run in five phases, focusing on analysis, documentation, code drafts, and test generation, all verified virtually against a 3D model.

The role targets automation/mechatronics students with PLC interest, CAD/3D simulation skills, and strong English or Swedish communication. Duration ~20 weeks in Sweden.

Qualifications

• Final-year student in automation, mechatronics, electrical or computer engineering.
• Basic PLC programming knowledge and interest in simulation/virtual commissioning.
• Good communication in English or Swedish.

Responsibilities

• Participate in scoping and reference behavior for a small V+ application part.
• Use AI tools to interpret and explain V+ code, structure and dependencies.
• Generate functional/technical documentation with AI support.
• Create first-draft code for the target platform and derive test cases.
• Verify motions and I/O against a virtual 3D model and reference behavior.

Skills

Automation

Mechatronics

PLC programming

Robotics

Simulation

AI tools

Education

Automation/Mechatronics/Electrical/Computer Engineering degree

Tools

CAD

3D simulation

Job description

Sandvik Coromant is a world-leading supplier of tools and tooling systems for metal cutting. Behind that sits a production environment with a large installed base of automation equipment – some of it still running on Adept robot controllers programmed in V+.This thesis project covers AI as an engineering aid when modernizing legacy Adept/V+ robot installations.This is a proof-of-concept project with honest premises. We do not believe AI can replace robot, PLC, and safety engineers in a control system migration, and we are not asking you to prove that it can. What we want to know is something more useful: how much of the manual groundwork involved in such a migration can AI take off our hands?Background and scope of the projectParts of our production still rely on obsolete Adept/V+ robot controllers, while the mechanical equipment has many years of useful life left. Modernization is often postponed because it requires engineers to interpret undocumented code, reconstruct system behavior, and create documentation and tests. Although the architectural differences make automatic translation unrealistic, AI could support this groundwork through analysis, documentation, code drafts, and test generation.PurposeThe purpose of the project is to quantify, on a single small and well-defined part of a real V+ application, how much AI can contribute in four specific areas:Analysis – understanding and explaining existing V+ code, its structure, dependencies and behaviorDocumentation – producing the functional and technical documentation that is missing todayCode drafts – generating first-draft code for the target platform for an engineer to review and completeTest generation – deriving test cases and verification criteria from the original applicationFor each area we want a measured answer: how much of the work could AI do, what was the quality, how much rework did an engineer have to put in, and how much time was saved in total?What this project is notThe goal is explicitly not a fully automated, production-ready conversion. Success is a clear, well-substantiated picture of where AI helps and where it does not and a working method we can reuse. A result showing limited benefit is a perfectly acceptable outcome. We are after an honest answer, not a positive one.Work descriptionThe project runs as a proof of concept in five phases. All verification is done virtually against a 3D model; no commissioning on physical equipment is involved.1. Scoping and reference behaviorTogether with your supervisor, select one small and well-defined part of a V+ application – a single sub-sequence or program module – as the case for the whole projectEstablish a measurable reference behavior for that part – motions, I/O, sequence logic and interfaces to surrounding equipment. This is what every later result is judged againstDefine up front how AI contribution will be measured in each of the four areas, so the comparison is fair and repeatable2. AI-assisted analysisUse two or three AI tools to interpret and explain the V+ code: structure, control flow, dependencies and implicit assumptionsAssess correctness against the reference behavior – what did the tools understand, what did they miss, and what did they state confidently but wrongly?3. AI-assisted documentationGenerate functional and technical documentation of the selected part with AI supportEvaluate how much of the output is usable as-is, how much needs editing, and how it compares with documenting the same code manually4. AI-assisted code drafts and test generationProduce first-draft code for the target platform with AI support, intended for engineering review rather than direct useGenerate test cases and verification criteria from the original applicationDocument failure patterns systematically. Where the tools go wrong is at least as valuable a result as where they succeed5. Verification against a 3D model, and recommendationBuild a simplified kinematic 3D model of the equipment – reusing existing CAD material where it exists – and run the reviewed code against it to verify motions, sequence and I/O against the reference behaviorSummarize the measured AI contribution per area, with an estimate of time and cost saved compared with a fully manual approachRecommend how Sandvik Coromant should work with AI support in future modernizations, which steps to use it for, which to keep entirely in engineering hands, and what is needed to scale the methodScope and limitationsThe work covers one small part of one V+ application, not a complete program or machineVerification is virtual. Commissioning on physical equipment is not includedThe 3D model is kinematic and limited in scope. Physics modelling, cycle time optimization and full mechatronic simulation are out of scopeThe project covers control and software, not mechanical rebuildSafety functions are analyzed and documented, but safety design and certification remain with our engineers and are not delegated to AI tools in this projectLocationIn place at Gimo, Sweden.Student backgroundWe are looking for one student with an interest in automation and a healthy skepticism towards tools that produce confident-looking output.What you bring:You are in the final year of a Master’s or Bachelor’s degree in automation, mechatronics, electrical engineering, computer engineering, or a related fieldBasic knowledge of PLC programming and/or industrial roboticsInterest in simulation and virtual commissioning (experience with CAD or 3D simulation is an advantage)You work systematically and critically, and are comfortable measuring and documenting results rather than only building thingsGood communication skills in English or SwedishExperience of AI tools for software development is a plus.Our cultureAt Sandvik, we’re tech-driven, innovative, and entrepreneurial. We believe that success is a team effort, so we value diversity and are committed to creating an inclusive culture where people can be themselves and reach their full potential. We invest in supporting each other, learning together, and celebrating our differences. Visit our stories hub, LinkedIn, or Facebook to get to know us better.Duration of the projectThe thesis project corresponds to 30 credits and lasts approximately 20 weeks, starting at the beginning of 2027. Upon completion and approval of the thesis, Sandvik offers lump-sum compensation.Contact informationFor further information about this project, please contact Jacob Bexenius, Engineering Blanks Manager, [phone].We’ve already decided on which advertising channels and marketing campaigns we wish to use, and respectfully decline any additional contacts in that matter.How to applyWe have an ongoing selection process for this project and ask you to send your application as soon as possible, but no later than November 20, 2026. Click Apply and include your resume and cover letter in English. Please note that we don’t accept applications by email. Job ID: R0097667.