Bachelor and Master Theses

Background

WEDA Robotics develops and manufactures underwater cleaning robots used in industrial environments. These robots are designed for durability, but maintenance and repair currently depend strongly on operator experience, service knowledge, and information available after problems occur.

Together with Mälardalen University (MDU), WEDA is investigating how operational and condition-related data can support improved maintenance decisions and circular strategies. 

Aim

The aim of this master's thesis is to investigate how data-driven maintenance approaches can be developed for WEDA's underwater cleaning robots and how these approaches can support circular strategies.

Possible Research Questions

RQ1: What are the main maintenance needs and challenges for WEDA's underwater cleaning robots, and what types of maintenance approaches are suitable for addressing them?

RQ2: What operational and condition-related data are required to support these data-driven maintenance approaches?

RQ3: How can data-driven maintenance affect the different circular strategies?

Expected Outcomes

The thesis is expected to deliver a structured understanding of WEDA's maintenance needs, suitable maintenance approaches, and required operational data. The main outcome will be a proposed data-driven maintenance and decision-support approach linking maintenance needs, relevant data, maintenance decisions, and circular strategies.

The thesis will also provide recommendations for moving toward more proactive and condition-informed maintenance.

Note: The student is not expected to develop a complete sensor or monitoring system. Technical work on collecting data from the robot and its control box is being carried out separately within the ongoing research project. Available maintenance information, operational data, or representative data can be used.

The thesis is suitable for master's students in Production, Product Development, Industrial Systems, Innovation and Design, or closely related engineering fields.

An interest in industrial maintenance, technical systems, data-driven decision-making, and circular economy practices is desirable.

The thesis will be conducted in collaboration with WEDA Robotics and Mälardalen University as part of the SmartCircle research project. The student will have the opportunity to investigate a real industrial maintenance challenge and develop recommendations together with the case company.

WEDA Robotics develops and manufactures underwater cleaning robots for industrial applications. The company collaborates with Mälardalen University through the SmartCircle research project, which investigates the use of digital technologies to support circular economy practices in manufacturing.