We are looking for a highly motivated and skilled master’s student to join an exciting hands-on research project on the further development of an expressive humanoid head for social robotics and human-robot interaction. This thesis offers the opportunity to build upon an existing robotic platform and contribute directly to the improvement of its expressiveness, realism, and overall interaction quality.

Project Overview:

This master’s thesis focuses on the continued development of an expressive humanoid head currently under construction in our lab. The goal of the project is to improve the naturalness and overall behavior of the system, making its appearance and movements more believable and suitable for social interaction.

Possible research directions include:

• Improvement of the robotic eye system for more natural gaze behavior
• Further development of the neck mechanism and head movement
• Optimization of facial and block movements to enhance expressiveness
• Mechanical, electronic, and software-based improvements for smoother and more natural behavior
• Integration and testing of new components or control strategies
• Evaluation of the system’s perceived realism, naturalness, and expressiveness

The thesis will contribute to the development of an expressive humanoid platform that can be used in future research on social robotics, affective interaction, and human-robot communication.

Key Responsibilities:

• Continue and further develop the current humanoid head platform
• Analyze the current system and identify areas for mechanical and structural improvement
• Design, implement, and test enhancements in hardware, mechanics, electronics, or control
• Support the construction, integration, and refinement of physical components
• Evaluate the effects of these improvements on the system’s behavior and perceived naturalness
• Document the development process and discuss the results in the context of social robotics

Who We’re Looking For:

• Strong interest in humanoid robots, social robotics, or human-robot interaction
• Background in robotics, mechatronics, mechanical engineering, electrical engineering, biomedical engineering, or a related field
• Very strong practical experience in physical construction and prototyping
• Very good CAD skills
• Very good experience with 3D printing and the use of 3D printers
• Experience with hardware integration, robot assembly, and mechanical design
• Independent, structured, and solution-oriented way of working
• Fluency in English

How to Apply:

If you are excited about building expressive humanoid robots and would like to contribute to the development of a real robotic platform, we invite you to apply exclusively via email, including your CV and complete transcript of records (GPA min. 2.5).

Subject: S2.2_Expressive Humanoid Head

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